The Padres announced that shortstop Nick Ahmed has been signed to a minor league contract. Ahmed chose free agency a little over a week ago, after the Dodgers designated him for assignment and he cleared waivers.
After spending his first 10 Major League seasons with the Diamondbacks, Ahmed has spent his 11th season as a member of three other NL West teams. After the D’Backs released Ahmed last September, he caught on with the Giants on a minors contract, and played in 52 big league games before San Francisco designated Ahmed for assignment and released him in July. Ahmed then signed a guaranteed contract with the Dodgers but was again DFA’ed a couple of weeks ago, and he chose free agency rather than an outright assignment to Triple-A.
The 34-year-old now stays in California and joins a Padres team that is missing its starting shortstop. Ha-Seong Kim has been on the injured list since August 19 due to shoulder inflammation, and manager Mike Shildt told MLB.com and other reporters that Kim hasn’t yet been cleared to throw across the diamond. Kim has been working out and taking part in other baseball activities at the Padres’ Spring Training complex, so he is at least making some progress even if the throws remain a question mark.
Mason McCoy and Tyler Wade have been handling the shortstop duties while Kim has been sidelined, and signing Ahmed gives the Padres more depth at the position. Ahmed has never been a plus hitter and his offense has particularly cratered over the last two seasons, including his .232/.271/.300 slash line over 221 plate appearances this season. But, the two-time Gold Glove winner is still a strong defender, and San Diego could at least aim to shore up the infield defense while Kim is still on the mend.
The timing of Ahmed’s signing is noteworthy, as his MLB.com profile page reveals that he inked his deal on August 31 instead of today. This means that Ahmed is eligible to be part of a postseason roster should San Diego reach the playoffs.
NL West tour
4 out of 5 if he gets into a Padres game. Maybe the Rockies can sign him on a minor league deal next year.
Steve Finley played for all five NL West teams!
So did Matt Herges. One of my favorite pieces of trivia is the number of players that have suited up for every team in a current division. The only division without at least one player doing so is the NL East. Kelly Johnson actually did the entire AL East in just a 3 year span.
Brad Hand played for every NL East team
I forgot about him. He was the newest addition to the group. So I guess every division has at least one player now.
Correction again. It was the AL Central, not the NL East that I was thinking of. There is no one that has played for all 5 AL Central teams.
NL East – Brad Hand
NL Central – Cesar Izturis, Ted Savage
NL West – Steve Finley, Matt Herges
AL East – Kelly Johnson, Steve Pearce
AL Central – none
AL West – Mark McLemore
NL West legend Steve Finley
Tatis, Kim, and Darvish have missed significant playing time. Its amazing that the Padres have played so well, missing such talent.
Who’s next cavan biggio
How many shortstops does one team need??
More!! More, I tell ya!!!
Even Trevor Hoffman was a converted shortstop.
Preller just took that ball and ran around the world with it.
10. 9 for the lineup, and 1 to pitch.
Cronenworth has been pumping 95 off the bump lately 😉
K̶y̶l̶o̶ R̶e̶n̶ AJ Preller: “More. MORE!!!”
Does this mean that Kim could miss the rest of regular season? Considering that Padres have at least 5 former SS other than Kim, it is interesting to see how the signing would turn out.
Seems a very real possibility, the organization downplaying the severity notwithstanding.
That injury looked bad when it happened.
Unless you have heard otherwise, he’s been doing full baseball activities in Peoria and preparing to return soon.
Not full. He hasn’t been throwing across the diamond. Perhaps that’s just days away.
Thanks for that additional info Simm.
Kim has been DHing in games in Peoria and doing everything other than throwing across the diamond. He should be back as soon as he can throw without pain.
Thanks for that update Pads
Some people are saying he has to be on the 40 man by today. This says otherwise.
So which is it?
Simm
Otherwise
A player can be added after Sept 1st to replace and injured player and still be postseason eligible
“A player who doesn’t meet said criteria for postseason eligibility can still be added to a team’s roster in the postseason via petition to the Commissioner’s Office if the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum amount of time required for activation. (For example, a player on the 10-day injured list who has been on it for at least 10 days, or a player who has been on the 60-day injured list for at least 60 days.)”
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/postseason-roster-ru…
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/postseason-roster-ru…
A player who doesn’t meet said criteria for postseason eligibility can still be added to a team’s roster in the postseason via petition to the Commissioner’s Office if the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum amount of time required for activation. (For example, a player on the 10-day injured list who has been on it for at least 10 days, or a player who has been on the 60-day injured list for at least 60 days.)
When you read the article it sounds like he can just be added without approval.
He has to be on 40 man by today. mlb.com/glossary/transactions/postseason-roster-ru… Padres CAN file for an exception if there is an injury to the current roster.
Ahmed can’t make the postseason roster unless there is an injury to the current roster and Padres file for an exception. So was he added just to keep the Dodgers from getting him back? Or to play through the end of September?
At 34 years old Ahmed is taken the NL West tour, after SD releases him, all that is left is Colorado..
Mark, Ahmed is not eligible to be on the postseason roster unless he was added to the 40-man roster when he signed.
There is a player that can’t throw across the Diamond right now that’s also the probable NL MVP. I wouldn’t get my hopes up for Kim to return soon just because he’s in the batters box. Being able to throw 100 percent after an injury isn’t just that it doesn’t hurt anymore. Strength needs to be restored. He’s hitting to stay sharp. Not a final indication that he’s almost ready.
When “but” starts a sentence, it should not have a comma after it.
The Rockies have the chance to do the funniest thing ever this offseason.