Wil Myers has been smashing the stuffing out of baseballs for the Padres this season, and both sides want to ensure that it stays that way for a while longer.
According to a report by Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday, Myers and the Padres have mutual interest in a contract extension.
“I love being here,” Myers was quoted as saying. “I do really, truly believe that (General Manager) A.J. Preller has a plan for the future, and that’s a big deal when it comes to extension talks. I love everything about (Manager) Andy Green, what he’s done here. I think he’s going to be a great manager. As far as being here long-term, I could see myself doing it. I could see trying to build something here.”
Preller echoed Myers’ sentiment, saying, “Not in the second half but definitely in the offseason, we want to look at it and say, ‘OK, is there something here we want to present to make him a long-term Padre? I think we’ll obviously talk about it with the front-office group and ownership; it’s an ownership decision, too. But I think his play in the first half has led to a point where that’s a discussion, something to start considering, and see where it goes.”
Myers has been a machine in his second season with the team, batting .289/.355/.532 with 20 home runs and 61 runs batted in through 88 games. Also developing into a quality defender at first base, he represented San Diego, along with now-former teammate Drew Pomeranz, as they hosted the All-Star Game at Petco Park earlier this week. Myers also had this funny moment as a participant in Monday’s Home Run Derby.
Thursday’s trade of Pomeranz to the Red Sox was the latest signal that Preller, who has also dealt away James Shields and Craig Kimbrel in the last several months, is beginning to prioritize cost-effective young prospects over established, expensive Major League talent. There had been some buzz recently that the team might try to trade Myers away too. But the 25-year-old slugger, who is arbitration-eligible in 2017 and can become a free agent in 2020, has simply become too good for the Padres not to try and build their team around long-term.
Image Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld
