The Padres Want To Move Xander Bogaerts Off Shortstop

The Padres Want To Move Xander Bogaerts Off Shortstop

If you gave AJ Preller a lie detector test, I’m not sure he’d pass the test if he were asked a yes or no question on if he regrets the Xander Bogaerts signing. Bogaerts has struggled to stay healthy with those wrists barking at him. Apparently, San Diego hasn’t been impressed defensively either.

Dennis Lin at The Athletic (don’t click the link it’s behind a paywall) has reported that San Diego wants to move Xander off of shortstop sooner rather than later.

“Some team officials would like to see Bogaerts move to first base or second base next season, with (Ha-Seong) Kim back at shortstop and Merrill eventually claiming a super-utility job if he does not settle in at one spot,” Lin wrote.

If you’re not familiar with Xander, let me explain to you how he’s going to feel about this. Xander prides himself on being a shortstop. I wish the Padres all the luck in the world giving this message to him.

Bogaerts said he’s seen all the rumors/suggestions about him moving to second base. “I’m a shortstop. I’ve seen all that stuff and sometimes it’s like do I even exist?” Said no one has talked to him about moving positions and he’s been trying to work on strengthening his defense

— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) March 15, 2022

By the way, there are a ton of comments like that from Bogaerts. That’s just the first one I found. He said the same thing right after the Padres signed him. It’s why Fernando Tatis Jr. is playing right field. As someone that pays very close attention to Boston sports, I know for a fact that Bogaerts takes great pride in being a shortstop.

Bogaerts has a .990 field percentage in 999 2/3 innings for the Padres this season with four errors in 113 starts. I think he’s actually been pretty good defensively this season and other publications would suggest the same thing. I can’t imagine he would take this news well.

Is a Bogaerts’ trade out of the question? Just remember, we got ten more years on this contract. If San Diego wants to move him out of shortstop already, what are the next ten years going to look like? This partnership could turn into a disaster.

Bogaerts, 30, is hitting .265/.338/.394 with 13 homers. It’s not a terrible season but it’s a far cry from his .292 career average with Boston.

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