No reason to sugarcoat it: The Padres are not paying Fernando Tatis Jr. $340 million with the unprecedented security of a 14-year contract for partial seasons. Yet, that's what they're getting.
The wince-worthy news that Tatis is likely to undergo surgery for a fractured left wrist as the Padres try to thread the needle on a singular competitive window dropped jaws Monday in San Diego.
On the first official day of big-league camp in Peoria, Ariz., there was no elation about an acrimonious lockout relegated to the rearview mirror or the exhilarating renewal of baseball's spring ritual.
Instead, it was like standing directly in front of a pitching machine dialed to maximum velocity.
Officials estimated the 23-year-old Tatis will be out, optimistically, somewhere in the range of three months. All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman of the World Series-winning Braves seemed on the verge of landing with the NL West rival Dodgers. In the same 24-hour period, coveted designated hitter Nelson Cruz — an intoxicating potential fit for a Padres team hunting a big bat — landed with the Nationals. If the team was able to unload Eric Hosmer's contract, A's first baseman Matt Olson seemed a dream fit … until he packed for Atlanta.
Almost none of that would have mattered so mightily, however, if Tatis was running out on the field in Peoria with those trademark dreadlocks bouncing in the Arizona sun.
It's one thing for the reigning NL home-run leader to miss games because of a labrum tear in his left shoulder or earlier injuries to his back and a hamstring, given those were born out of playing his gluteus maximus off.
This, though, appears maddeningly different.
In December, Tatis was in a motorcycle accident. Why was he riding on one? Great question. At that age, kids feel invincible. We all remember those days as we now reach for the heating pad.
Though Tatis said it was unclear how he injured the wrist, it would be shocking if the motorcycle tumble was not the root cause.
And that's where blood pressures spike.
"With Tati, again, our conversation is about getting him right, getting him back healthy and talking to him about responsibility and what that looks like," President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller said. "We've had all those conversations.
"Ultimately, I think with Fernando, he understands. He's obviously very disappointed. He wants to be on the field."
Does he understand, though? The Padres need to be sure he does.
Spell everything out, even if it's for the 119th time. Fernando, no downhill skiing. Fernando, no hang gliding. Fernando, crumple up that application to be a wild-animal trainer.
The Padres worked to bubble-wrap the superstar after his shoulder injury. No head-first slides. No one-handed swinging from his heels. When he was moved to the outfield, no crashing into walls.
The reason was clear: The Padres are not anywhere close to the same team without him.
Tatis led the National League with 42 homers, despite missing 22 games. His offensive production, historic by many measures, is defused by his time off the field. He's a perennial candidate for MVP … and a surgical suite.
Speaking of surgery, it's impossible not to wonder about his seeming aversion to it when needed and recommended. Tatis tap danced around surgery on his shoulder, telling the Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee last September, "I don't want to put a (knife) in my body."
Another part of Tatis' responsibility to the Padres, fans and himself after being offered a contract commitment eclipsing a third of $1 billion is to deal with it medically as soon as possible.
That brings us to another typical San Diego sports gut punch. Because of MLB's lockout, communications were required to go radio silent as the sides wrestled over a collective bargaining agreement.
The fact team doctors could have visited Tatis after the accident because they are not officially team employees who would have violated lockout rules is stunning.
Acee reported the team was assured by Tatis representatives the incident amounted to simple scrapes and bruises.
You don't send doctors to check on your $340 million investment anyway?
If Tatis could have talked with the medical staff sooner, the recovery would be closer to the finish line than the beginning.
"Definitely could be a different story, yeah," Tatis said.
Now, everyone will learn if Tatis can pivot to a level of maturity that matches his immense talents.
Since arriving in the majors, Tatis has missed 99 games to injury in less than 2 1/2 seasons. That math translates to watching from the dugout for nearly 30 percent of his brief and spectacular career.
Now, the Padres power is sapped for who knows how long. That becomes exponentially frustrating to fans who see the slugging provided to other clubs by former Padres like Hunter Renfroe, Franmil Reyes and Ty France.
Renfroe belted 31 home runs with 96 RBI for the Boston. Reyes banged 30 of his own for Cleveland. The home runs would rank only behind Tatis a season ago and the run-production trailed only Tatis and Manny Machado.
In Seattle, France's OPS (on-base, plus slugging) was tops on the team.
New manager Bob Melvin, who received the worst welcome-to-work gift of anybody in almost any job, tried to channel late painter Bob Ross with a few happy trees and happy little clouds.
"That's obviously a hit, but it gives somebody else an opportunity," he said. "… That should motivate us to hold down the fort until he gets back."
If the motorcycle is to blame — and it's tough to think it isn't — there should have been no need for fort-guarding in the first place.
Tatis is one of the most talented players of many people's lifetimes.
That only matters if he's on the field.
