San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller spoke strongly about Fernando Tatis Jr. on Friday, describing the star outfielder as “untouchable” amidst trade speculation.
“He’s one of the best players in baseball, is a two-time Platinum [Glove] winner,” Preller told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune in response to Tatis speculation.
Tatis finished eighth in National League Most Valuable Player voting this past season, after hitting .268 with 25 home runs and 71 runs batted in over 155 games. Over his six MLB seasons, Tatis has been named an All-Star three times, has three Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves.
“Every one of the different versions and iterations of the team and roster we put up there, it’s ’Tati’ right in the middle. Hopefully, he is one of the top players on our team this year. He’s somebody that we’re not talking about, however you want to say that. If you want to say that’s ’untouchable,’ you can say that.”
Tatis, 27, is entering the sixth year of a 14-year, $340 million contract signed under the team’s previous owner, Peter Seidler. After Seidler’s death in November of 2023, ownership of the team entered a tenuous state – including a lawsuit by Seidler’s widow against his brothers over their handling of the team’s assets, and the announcement earlier in the off-season that Peter’s brother, John, will reportedly explore a sale of the franchise.
The uncertainty regarding ownership and team payroll led some teams around the league to wonder whether their highest-paid player may become available as the team potentially seeks to cut payroll.
The Padres have ranked near the top of the league in total payroll since 2019, when they signed third baseman Manny Machado to a 10-year deal worth $300 million, and followed two years later by adding Tatis’ contract to the mix and also gave shortstop Xander Bogaerts an 11-year deal worth $285 million ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Over his career, Tatis has hit .277 with 152 home runs and 393 RBI over 671 games played.