The San Diego Padres’ decision to move Fernando Tatis Jr. to second base was so surprising that it sparked a wild idea from former MLB star Harold Reynolds.
On Tuesday, former two-time All-Star Harold Reynolds praised Tatis for being such a versatile and talented weapon for the Padres. Reynolds even went as far as to call Tatis the most talented player today not named Shohei Ohtani.
Tatis’ adventure at second base began during last Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif., a move initially believed to be aimed at getting Nick Castellanos’ bat into the lineup.
Reynolds, however, believes it goes much deeper than that.
“I think this is a showcase because of the Padres’ payroll,” Reynolds said Tuesday on the MLB Network.
“I know they’re up there battling the Dodgers every year. We say it over and over and over. I’m sorry. They’ve got to do something. They can’t carry this payroll. The Dodgers can’t. They can’t carry this. Somebody’s got to go. So who of those guys do I want? I want Fernando Tatis Jr.”
The Padres have one of the heftiest payrolls in the big leagues, with a ton of money committed to Tatis, who signed a monster 14-year, $340 million contract extension with San Diego in 2021.
That contract will carry him through the 2034 season, when he will also be 35. The Padres can move around Tatis anywhere on the field, but they are unlikely to send the three-time All-Star elsewhere.
Tatis also doesn’t need to play second base for general managers to add him to their trade deadline wish list, but if San Diego made the move to spark Tatis’ bat, the team seemingly succeeded in that mission.
He went 5-for-9 with a double and an RBI in two games playing second base before returning to his usual role in the field in San Diego’s 4-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park.
