MLB Rumors: "Surprising" Team Looking At Free Agent All-Star Shortstop

The suitors for the fearsome foursome of All-Star free agent shortstops are mostly to be expected; teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and of course, the incumbents like the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox. All are organizations that are in desperate need to sign—or keep—a star at their keystone.

So when we hear that the San Diego Padres—the team of superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.—is in on the bidding, it makes them a bit of a "surprise", as noted by MLB Insider Jon Heyman. 

But it actually does make sense when you look at the ramifications. The Padres can move Tatis to the outfield (he played 24 games there in 2021) to save the wear and tear on his injury-prone shoulder—and now wrist, while last year's shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim, could be used in a "super utility" role, as Heyman notes.

And besides, the Padres are obviously going "all in" these days, after they stripped their farm system of all its top prospects in trading for Juan Soto, whom they have under control for two more years before he hits free agency. So the window is now. 

Heyman notes that the Padres "like Xander Bogaerts" in particular, but will also keep tabs on Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson. 

Photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports