Xander Bogaerts’ time as the Padres’ shortstop was short-lived, despite the high cost that came with it.
A year after signing an 11-year, $280 million contract with San Diego, the team wants him to play second base for the first time in his career, first-year manager Mike Shildt told reporters Friday. He told the group.
The move will see second baseman Kim Ha-sung, who is guaranteed the final year of his four-year, $28 million contract, convert to shortstop.
Bogaerts, 31, had never played an inning at second base during his 11 seasons in the majors or in the minors, but Shildt approached him during the offseason in the former Red Sox star’s hometown of Aruba.
Regarding Bogaerts’ desire to transfer, the manager said, “I had an order of magnitude more admiration.”
Shildt added that Bogaerts is “all in right now” and aware he has an “elite defender” on the team in Kim, who won a Gold Glove as a utility man last season.
He left the door open that the plan could be called off if things didn’t work out.
“I can’t say it’s 100 percent carved in stone,” Shildt said. “We’re going to let him do it. See what it’s like. We’re going to evaluate it.”
According to the metrics, Bogaerts, who hit .285/.350/.440 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs last season, is an above-average defender with an above-average three outs and -4 fielding runs allowed.
Shildt certainly defended the $280 million man’s defense, stressing that the move was meant to take advantage of 28-year-old Kim’s talent.
“I don’t want to make a false report,” the manager said. “Xander Bogaerts played a very good shortstop for the San Diego Padres last year and was a positive contributor to us and our success.”
After winning 89 games and advancing to the NLCS the previous year, the Padres are coming off a disappointing season with an 82-80 record.
