How will Tatis, Machado dynamic work out?
Padres emphasize that top prospect is their shortstop of the future
AJ Cassavell
@AJCassavellPEORIA, Ariz. -- The moment Fernando Tatis Jr. began his ascent of every major prospect ranking, the comparisons were there. A talented young infielder, Tatis was supposedly a younger version of Manny Machado. The athleticism, the swing, the frame, the arm -- they all projected similarly.
"I remember talking to guys about Tatis last year, saying how I saw a lot of Manny in him," said Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer, who played against Machado for years in the American League, then alongside Tatis in the Cactus League.
Moving forward, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to compare the two. Tatis and Machado, after all, will share the left side of the infield in San Diego.
On Thursday, the Padres finalized a record-setting, 10-year contract with Machado, and the move sent ripples through a jubilant clubhouse.
"He has been my favorite player since five years ago," Tatis said Tuesday when news Machado had agreed to a deal was first reported. "Now here we are."
Machado and Tatis, who share the same agent, met last summer during All-Star week. Tatis was taking part in the Futures Game. Machado was donning an Orioles uniform for the last time. The two chatted for a while and exchanged numbers.
In September, Tatis was rehabbing a broken thumb in Arizona when Machado and the Dodgers came to town. Machado left tickets for Tatis, who later posted a picture of Machado from the game on Instagram with the caption, "Aqui, El Ministro de Defensa" -- Here, The Minister of Defense.
Tatis, the sport's No. 2 prospect and the presumed shortstop of the future in San Diego, said he learned of Tuesday¡¯s news while watching MLB Network. His mind began to race about the possibilities.
"I can learn about a lot from him," Tatis said. "He's going to teach me a lot. It's going to be special to play right next to him."
That's unlikely to happen on Opening Day. Tatis hasn't yet played a full season at Double-A, and he's a longshot to break camp with the big league club. Service-time concerns might play a factor. Development will, too.
"It might be in his best interest to play a little bit longer in the Minor Leagues before his time comes," said Padres manager Andy Green. "But we've made it quite clear to him that when he shows us that his time has come, he's going to be out there at shortstop for us."
The last part of Green's statement is key. The Padres view Tatis as their long-term shortstop. That means Machado will shift to back to third.
Machado spent six seasons at third base in Baltimore before his move to short last year. He was vocal in his desire to be viewed as a shortstop on the free-agent market. But according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Machado has agreed to play third base from the start.
The move means Luis Urias should open the season at short, with Ian Kinsler at second. When Tatis arrives, those two will fight for playing time at second. Tatis was once viewed as a better long-term fit at third base, but he¡¯s turned into a well-above-average defender at shortstop in the Minor Leagues.?
"With Tatis, it's been great to see the progression of adding him to the organization and seeing him continue to grow at the shortstop position," general manager A.J. Preller said Tuesday. "We think he's going to be an impact defender. ... Our opinion of Tatis, he's a shortstop. He's going to be our shortstop. That's the way we look at it."
Ultimately, of course, there's room for both Machado and Tatis on the left side. And, presumably, in the heart of the Padres' lineup, too.
"It's going to be special," Tatis said. "Having a guy like him can change a lot of things."