SAN DIEGO, CA – As if their offseason wasn’t exciting enough filled with one story line after another, the San Diego Padres weren’t quite done making moves. In this particular case, it was more about being proactive and ensuring an even brighter future.
The Padres signed star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. to a 14-year, $330 million deal as he is heading into his third professional season. This contract to Tatis gives him the third-largest contract in baseball behind Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.
Clearly, GM AJ Preller wanted to take care of his 22-year-old star now and not wait five years down the road and risk losing him in free agency.
“One of the game’s most exciting and best talents decided to make San Diego his home, hopefully for his career,” Preller said.
Not to mention the way the Padres view Tatis’ potential, if he continues to trend upward and become one of the most elite players in the game, they may look back at this deal as a bargain. Also, they have a charismatic star to market to fans every year, which hasn’t always been the case the last 15-20 years.
Tatis played 50 games in the expedited 2020 season with a .277 batting average, 17 home runs, 45 RBIs, 50 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases.
“I’m just grateful for everything,” Tatis said after getting the extension. “To the city of San Diego…we’re here to stay. I love this city. I love the fans. I love the culture. I love the vibe. I’m all about winning, and I’m all about winning in San Diego.”
If Tatis were to stay his entire career with the Padres and have a great deal of individual and team success, he could be in line one day to have a statue built in his honor outside of Petco Park like other Padres Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman.
Tatis definitely wants such a distinction.
“I want the statue on one team,” Tatis said. “I want to be able to stay on one team and build my legacy over here in San Diego.”
This signing isn’t just about making the playoffs or overtaking the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. This is about building a winning culture for years and making San Diego a desirable destination for future free agents.
The Padres have shown in recent years to be aggressive signing Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer to huge contracts, however, this Tatis extension really puts them on the map as an organization dedicated to winning with a rising star to lead the way.
