Padres News: Team Officials Want Shortstop Xander Bogaerts to Undergo Position Change Next Year

One season after the Padres signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts, some in the organization may want to change his position.

This past offseason the San Diego Padres signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts to a $280 million 11-year contract, and now they're thinking about changing his position.

When the Padres signed Bogaerts, many pundits questioned the move. Bogaerts is a satisfactory defensive shortstop, but the Padres already had Ha-Seong Kim there.

Kim is a spectacular defensive shortstop while his offense was below major league average. However, while playing second base, Kim has improved his offense drastically. This year, he has a .281 batting average with 15 home runs, 44 RBI, and .810 OPS.

Kim’s Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop was a massive boost to the Friars last season, and something they've definitely missed this year.

Nevertheless, the Padres front office liked Bogaerts’ consistent offensive production. His lifetime batting average is .290. This season, he has had some trouble adjusting, so he is hitting .267 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. In 110 games at shortstop, Bogaerts has 4 errors.

Some in the organization think a position change can do him well, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

"Some team officials would like to see Bogaerts move to first base or second base next season, with Kim back at shortstop and (Jackson) Merrill eventually claiming a super-utility job if he does not settle in at one spot."

The Padres can see Bogaerts in a super utility role, playing in left field, or playing either second or first base. The Padres already have begun instructing him on other positions than shortstop.

Yes, the Padres have had a disappointing season, and the likelihood of them making the postseason for the second consecutive year is very slim. However, Bogaerts isn’t their main problem.

Any time an organization changes a player’s position, it takes a risk. Not only having poorer defense from the player while he learns the new position, but his offense may suffer while he concentrates on his defense. 

We'll see what they ultimately decide to do this offseason.