Trade Target: Fernando Tatis Jr.

The Red Sox should call up the San Diego Padres and take their temperature on a blockbuster trade

By Terry Cushman Jr

WHY WOULD THE PADRES TRADE THEIR FRANCHISE STAR?

Two reasons.

First, their operating costs in recent years have exceeded their on-field payroll. In 2023, Padres ownership had to take out a $50M loan to cover their players’ salary.

Intially, they wanted to borrow $100M, but MLB officials intervened and would only approve a loan of $50M.

Secondly, their beloved owner, Peter Seidler, a guy who arguably wanted to bring a championship to his city worse than any other owner of any major American sports franchise, died in November of 2023.

His widow, Sheel Seidler, has been locked into an intense public feud with John Seidler (Peter’s older brother), the new control person for the Padres.

Subsequent lawsuits have been filed in that matter, with Sheel accusing John of essentially wanting to cut payroll way down to a level in which the Padres would slip back into obscurity.

Sheel also feels she is the rightful heir to the sports franchise, which is in part, what they are battling in court.

If the Red Sox wish to take advantage of their financial hardships and drama, perhaps there would be motivation to shed a major contract like Fernando Tatis, Jr’s.

THE BALANCE OF HIS CONTRACT

Tatis is 26 years old, and had nine years remaining on his contract. Essentially thru his age 35 season.

His annual salary maxes out at $36M in the final few years of his deal. And it would essentially be comparable to the Rafael Devers contract which the Red Sox essentially just transferred to the Giants.

Xander Bogaerts will be owed $200M over the next eight years, thru his age 41 season, and that deal is already aging very poorly.

Manny Machado is owed $305M over the next eight years. The Padres third baseman is still one of the best players in MLB, but we would have to assume this deal won’t look great as he approaches age his age 40 season.

THE TRADE PACKAGE - HOW DOES IT LOOK?

The Red Sox have several moveable assets to get a deal done with A.J. Preller and the Padres.

Here are the three pieces I would start with:

1. Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu

2. Tanner Houck or Richard Fitts

3. James Tibbs III

There were reports earlier in the season that the Padres highly coveted Jarren Duran. But perhaps with his lack of production and regressing defense, they would be more swayed by Wilyer Abreu.

Dylan Cease and Michael King are both free agents at the end of the year, so offering Fitts or Houck would certainly fill a need.

San Diego signed Nick Pivetta away from the Red Sox this past winter, who is 9-2 with a 3.25 ERA and a SO/9 at nearly 10.

Their pitching program has been pretty strong out west. They helped Blake Snell win his second career CY Young award last season. As well as helped Joe Musgrove ascend to the level of an upper rotation starter.

Perhaps they will view Tanner Houck as a pitcher with serious untapped potential. He is also a guy who could play a huge role this season as the Padres remain tied for the third Wild Card.

And finally, James Tibbs III, the outfield prospect we acquired in the Devers trade has tons of raw power. He could very well be a cornerstone of the Petco Park outfield for years to come with Jackson Merrill.

CONCLUSION

If Craig Breslow wants to save baseball in Boston, and perhaps his job, a narrative changing move is what Red Sox fans are desperate for.

Fernando Tatis fits that bill, and will be the biggest powerhouse from the right side of the plate since the departure of Mookie Betts.

He would be part of an every day outfield with Ceddanne Rafaela and Roman Anthony. All of whom have good career numbers against lefties.

If Craig Breslow wants to remove himself from the Cherington-Bloom catagory, and into the Epstein-Dombrowski realm, he has to make bold moves.

Or his legacy in Boston will be brief and forgotten.