Agent John Boggs offers thoughts on Padres’ Tatis extension talks
Sports Agent John Boggs joined the Gwynn and Chris show to offer some thoughts on a potential Padres’ extension for Fernando Tatis Jr.
It appears that a Fernando Tatis Jr. extension is a matter of “if” and not “when.” The Padres were bullish on a potential extension last offseason, as general manager A.J. Preller indicated the franchise was in a wait-and-see mode. At the time, a 20-year-old Tatis was coming off an impressive rookie campaign, but he was limited to just 84 games due to a back injury.
He finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting for the National League and recently finished fourth in the 2020 NL MVP race. The Padres were well represented within the top five of MVP voting, as Tatis’ teammate in Manny Machado finished third. If not for a terrible slump near the end of the year, Tatis could have very well won the award. But over that span, Braves’ first baseman and eventual NL MVP Freddie Freeman surged ahead.
And while the Padres enter the offseason with a much shorter to-do list than previous years, a Tatis extension appears to be on the horizon. Sports Agent John Boggs, who has represented notable players like Adrian Gonzalez and Russ Ortiz, recently joined the Gwynn and Chris radio program on 97.3 The Fan to offer insight into how the Padres should approach the extension.
“Obviously, if I’m the Padres, I would try to do whatever I can to keep somebody that you’ve had in the system, and you’ve got somebody like him,” Boggs said. “You’re developing him, and he’s a hell of a tremendously exciting player. I would do everything I can to keep him in San Diego.”
Remaining in San Diego for a long time appears to be a mutual feeling between the club and the player. After all, Tatis, at 21, posted a .277/.366/.571 line with 17 home runs and 45 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in the COVID-shortened season.
Tatis is under team control through the 2024 season, but over a 162-game schedule, his 2020 numbers project out to approximately 47 home runs and 124 RBI’s. Every season that passes, he will be that much more expensive to retain. A long-term deal resulting in a seven or eight-year deal would appear to make sense.
Tatis would become a free agent again in his age 29 or 30 season, at which point, the Padres could retain him should he continue to perform at an incredible level. But right now, the financial limitations due to the pandemic could put a wrench in any extension.
“We’re dealing with some unusual circumstances where not only the baseball industry but the country, in general, is taking a big, huge financial hit with the coronavirus. What are you willing to give, and what are you willing to guarantee, and for how many years? It’s a big ask, and it should be because he’s a big talent. Hopefully, in Tatis’ case, I’m also looking at how far we’re apart. How much does location and familiarity with the organization count for his success? “
Padres writer/editor for East Village Times. LA Kings writer/editor for Hockey Royalty. IBWAA member.