SAN DIEGO -- Xander Bogaerts' new position is his old position: He's returning to shortstop in 2025.

Manager Mike Shildt formally revealed that plan during his FanFest media availability on Saturday at Petco Park. The move had been largely expected, particularly in the wake of free agent Ha-Seong Kim's decision to sign with Tampa Bay.

"Once it looked like Kimmy was not going to be able to come back ... the way the team was getting built, it looked like it was an opportunity for Bogey to play short,¡± Shildt said. ¡°So I had a great conversation with Bogey probably a month ago. He had already had his head around wanting [it] and training to go back and play shortstop. He was very enthusiastic about it."

Bogaerts moved to second base last season as the Padres looked to maximize their defensive alignment with Kim¡¯s elite glove at shortstop. After some initial growing pains at second, Bogaerts proved solid defensively there, worth 6 outs above average.

He had spent the previous 11 seasons of his career entrenched as a shortstop in both Boston and San Diego. It has long been his preferred position -- and now he's back.

The move also means Jake Cronenworth will serve as the Padres' starting second baseman, Shildt said. Cronenworth has fluctuated between first and second base over the past few seasons (with his defensive value clearly higher at second).

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"Not just for me, but for everybody, it gives us clarity for where we're going to be and how we can prepare," Cronenworth said. "It's the same guys coming back. Maybe in a couple different spots, but we have a great infield."

A year ago, that luxury wasn't afforded to Bogaerts. He was informed on the first day of Spring Training of the team's plan to move him to second base.

Without criticizing the decision, Bogaerts made it clear he wished he had been given an earlier indication of the plan. But with Kim one season from free agency, the Padres were mulling trade scenarios involving Kim and truly weren't certain of Bogaerts¡¯ move until just before the beginning of camp.

Despite some criticism of his glove at short, Bogaerts has been roughly league average defensively in his two seasons in San Diego. He has been worth 3 outs above average at the position -- with most of his work there coming in 2023 before he played 17 games down the stretch after Kim sustained a season-ending shoulder injury.

It¡¯s unclear how long Bogaerts will stick at short. He has nine years remaining on the 11-year deal he signed before the 2023 season and will presumably return to second base at some point -- perhaps whenever 18-year-old Leodalis De Vries, newly revealed as MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 18 overall prospect, is ready for the big leagues.

Morejon in the ¡¯pen
The Padres remain in search of starting pitchers to round out the back of their rotation. Adrian Morejon will not be one of them. He¡¯s simply too valuable in the bullpen, they say.

Coming off the best season of his career, Morejon again will be deployed as one of the team¡¯s back-end weapons. Following Tanner Scott¡¯s departure, Morejon projects as the team¡¯s top left-handed reliever.

Morejon spent the first several seasons of his career as a starter/reliever hybrid, but he often was beset by injury. He has thrived since his transition to full-time duty in the ¡¯pen and posted a 2.83 ERA in 60 appearances last season.

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¡°There are thoughts, and there are some guys we¡¯re looking to stretch out,¡± Shildt said. ¡°We¡¯re still finalizing that with them. ¡­ But Adrian has found a really nice niche in the bullpen. It¡¯s a spot where we think he¡¯s going to not only do as well as he did last year, but take the next step.¡±

Righties Stephen Kolek and Bryan Hoeing (in addition to Morejon) were two names mentioned by general manager A.J. Preller at the MLB Winter Meetings in December as options to move from the bullpen to the rotation.

Merrill downplays ROY outcome
Padres fans, Jackson Merrill does not share your disappointment about his missing out on the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Award.

¡°Hate to break it to you guys, but that wasn¡¯t my goal,¡± Merrill said. ¡°Sorry that I couldn¡¯t pull it out for you guys, but it¡¯s OK to me. ¡­ I¡¯d trade that out for a World Series.¡±

Merrill finished second to Pittsburgh¡¯s Paul Skenes, receiving seven of 30 first-place votes. No Padre has won the award since Benito Santiago in 1987.