A.J. Preller discusses Padres' shortstop situation

The Padres find themselves in an unfamiliar position.

San Diego could be on the lookout for a shortstop despite their affinity for collecting players with experience at the position.

Most of those players (i.e.

Manny Machado , Fernando Tatis Jr.

, Xander Bogaerts , Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth ) moved off shortstop.

Ha-Seong Kim will be a free agent when he declines his end of a mutual option in favor of a $2M buyout.

Kim is among the most difficult free agents to project after his season was cut short by a labrum injury that required surgery.

San Diego baseball operations president A.J.

Preller addressed the position as part of a conference call with reporters on Monday (links via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com and Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune ).

Preller said the Padres would love to bring (Kim) back but acknowledged the uncertain timeline for his injury.

The Union-Tribunes Kevin Acee wrote a few weeks ago that Kim was aiming for a return in April or May.

Preller left the situation more open-ended.

The executive noted that Kim isnt slated to begin a throwing program until close to the start of the season.

As for a return to game action, Preller loosely floated May, June, July as viable outcomes.

Its clearly too early in the rehab process for the Padres to narrow down a specific target.

That uncertainty should all but close the book on the chance of San Diego issuing Kim a qualifying offer.

The 29-year-old infielder would probably accept a $21.05M salary, which is too much for the Padres to risk with Kim looking very likely to at least begin the season on the injured list.

Preller and his staff also face notable free-agent losses in the bullpen ( Tanner Scott ), left field ( Jurickson Profar ) and behind the plate ( Kyle Higashioka ).

The relief group should be strong enough to weather Scotts departure, but the Padres will need to address a few spots in the lineup while also finding a replacement for the injured Joe Musgrove in the rotation.

That could make it difficult to retain Kim.

Even if the Padres were to bring him back, theyd need a short-term replacement while he completes his rehab.

If he walks, theyll need a permanent answer.

Bogaerts moved back from second base for the stretch run.

The Padres seem to prefer him at the keystone, though they might not have any better options at shortstop.

Machado and Cronenworth havent played there in years.

Nor has Tatis, who has been a full-time right fielder since returning from the injuries and suspension that wiped out his 2022 season.

Merrill developed as a shortstop prospect before learning center field on the fly.

The 21-year-old immediately became one of the sports top all-around center fielders.

Preller didnt seem keen on the idea of moving Tatis or Merrill back to the infield.

Theyd probably love that possibility.

They always joke around Whatevers needed, the baseball ops president said.

The great part of those guys is theyre talented athletes, they can play different spots.

...

But Tati winning the Platinum [Glove] two years ago, and Jackson doing a tremendous job in center field this year, we know that theyre really good at what they do in the outfield.

There hasnt been much serious discussion about Tatis moving back to shortstop.

Its a plausible scenario for Merrill, who only moved off shortstop in deference to Kim and seems as if he can comfortably adjust to whatever position the Padres ask of him.

Yet as Preller noted, its tempting to leave Merrill in center field with how well he played this year.

San Diego doesnt have an obvious in-house candidate to take over in center if Merrill were to come back onto the infield.

Theyd probably need to acquire a center fielder and the free agent market at the position is extremely thin.

Its not much deeper at shortstop, where only Willy Adames and Kim, if healthy, profile as regulars.

This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission..

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