PEORIA, Ariz. — The Padres will not run into a shortage of shortstops this season, which is the long and – cue the groans – short of it.
There's a Gold Glove-caliber one at third base in Manny Machado. There's Ha-Seong Kim, the projected second baseman, who tied for the fifth most defensive runs saved at shortstop across baseball last season. There's two-time All-Star Jake Cronenworth, who has played there in spots in each of his three big-league seasons, penciling in at first base.
There are so many players adept at handling the most challenging address on the field that a $340 million shortstop-at-the-start — Fernando Tatis Jr., who will return once his PED suspension ends April 20 — is headed to the outfield.
