San Diego Padres Extend Contract Of Versatile Infielder Jake Cronenworth

On a group that has spent the low season signing stars to long-term contracts, Jake Cronenworth shouldn’t be precisely a family title.

However the San Diego Padres prize his versatility a lot that they gave him a seven-year extension Saturday.

A 29-year-old left-handed hitter beginning his fourth season with the group, Cronenworth his performed first, second, and shortstop throughout his transient profession, spent completely with San Diego. He introduced a .256 profession batting common and 42 dwelling runs into the 2023 marketing campaign.

A pitcher-infielder throughout his school days on the College of Michigan, the 6-foot, 187-pounder is now the common first baseman for the revamped Padres.

That’s as a result of the group signed erstwhile Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts as a free agent, shifting slugger Fernando Tatís, Jr. to the outfield and bumping Ha-seoing Kim to the bench (Tatís, out all of final season, is due again from PEDs suspension on April 20).

Manny Machado, who also can play shortstop, anchors the infield at third base after ending second within the voting for Nationwide League Most Priceless Participant final fall.

With Cronenworth signed by way of 2030, San Diego has now locked up Machado and Bogaerts for 11 years every, Yu Darvish for six, Joe Musgrove and Robert Suarez for 5 years every, and Michael Wacha for 4.

Subsequent their want record could be Josh Hader, a possible free agent this fall, and Juan Soto, who turns into eligible after the 2024 season.

Based on Spotrac, San Diego ranks third within the majors with a payroll of $176,820,454. Solely the 2 New York groups, the Mets and Yankees respectively, pay their gamers extra.

The Padres hope their spending pays off in a pennant for the primary time since 1998. The group has reached the World Collection solely twice, additionally attending to the ultimate spherical in 1984, however has by no means gained a world championship.

A two-time All-Star, Cronenworth got here to San Diego in a five-man swap with the Tampa Bay Rays in December 2019. In his first season, he completed tied for second in voting for Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months. Then he had a career-best 21 homers in 2021.

Cronenworth’s new deal buys out his last two arbitration years plus a possible 5 years of free company. He’ll flip 36 earlier than it runs out.

The versatile infielder is incomes $4.225 million this season, with the seven-year extension set to begin in 2024. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the deal is value $80 million.

San Diego completed second within the Nationwide League West final summer time, 22 video games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, however made a severe bid for the NL flag after reaching the playoffs as a wild-card. The Padres misplaced a five-game Championship Collection to the Philadelphia Phillies.