For a team full of players with shortstop experience, it’s a little ironic that the San Diego Padres could be in the market for a new shortstop this offseason. That’s the reality, however, as general manager AJ Preller doesn’t sound interested in moving Fernando Tatis Jr. or Jackson Merrill to the infield.

Fernando Tatis Jr and Jackson Merrill (Padres) playing the outfield

With shortstop Ha-Seong Kim expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, the Padres have more than enough options to replace him internally. Preller just doesn’t want to mess with what’s worked.

“They’d probably love that possibility,” heof Tatis and Merrill. “They always joke around — ’Whatever’s needed.’ The great part of those guys is they’re talented athletes.

“They can play different spots. … But Tati winning the Platinum [Glove] two years ago, and Jackson doing a tremendous job in center field this year, we know that they’re really good at what they do in the outfield.”

At 25 years old, Tatis has played 242 major-league games at shortstop but primarily played right field the last two years. Merrill, a rookie, exclusively played center field in his first season in the majors but played 196 games at short during his minor-league career.

If that Padres don’t want to move a current player, they can look to bring Kim back or go after another free-agent shortstop like Willy Adames.

The Padres’ internal shortstop options: From Fernando Tatis Jr. to Manny Machado

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) looks on from the dugout before game five against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

As Preller said, Tatis is a former platinum glove winner, so there’s no reason to move him from right field. Though Statcast clocks him as an outfielder with slightly below average range, he has one of the best arms in the game to make up for it.