The Padres announced that shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a non-displaced fracture in his left foot. Shortstop Mason McCoy has been recalled in a corresponding move. Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres think Bogaerts has a chance to be back for the postseason, which implies he will miss the remainder of the regular season.
The Friars haven’t yet announced how Bogaerts injured himself but it seems likely it happened on Wednesday. As seen in this clip from MLB.com, Bogaerts fouled a ball of himself in the eighth inning and collapsed in pain. He managed to stay in that game and then the Friars were off yesterday, but it seems they did some recent testing that found the fracture.
Bogaerts isn’t quite the same hitter he was at this peak but is still a solid everyday player. His .262/.330/.387 batting line this year translates to a 103 wRC+, just 3% above league average, but he has 20 stolen bases and seven Outs Above Average at shortstop. Despite the tepid offense, FanGraphs has credited him with three wins above replacement this year.
The options to cover shortstop in his absence are far less inspiring. Veteran Jose Iglesias will probably get the bulk of the playing time there now. He’s a solid defender but is hitting just .228/.303/.276 this year. McCoy is also considered strong with the glove but has a .182/.250/.218 line in 63 big league plate appearances. His Triple-A work is better but still not great. His .265/.341/.413 line since the start of 2024 translates to a wRC+ of 80 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
That’s a notable drop-off for a club still playing meaningful baseball. The Padres are trying to chase down the Dodgers in the National League West, currently just two games back. They are holding onto the second Wild Card spot, seven games clear of the Reds, the top team not in playoff position. Their odds of making the postseason are still good but no club wants to lose its starting shortstop going into the stretch run. It also sounds like it’s not a guarantee that Bogaerts is back by October.
With the trade deadline having passed a month ago, the Padres have fewer options for finding external solutions. It’s possible they find an upgrade they like on waivers. For instance, the Pirates have reportedly put infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the wire. The Padres could grab him and he would be postseason eligible if claimed prior to September 1st, though doing so would mean taking on the roughly $1.21MM still remaining on his contract. That’s not a huge amount in the larger context of MLB payrolls but the Friars have been dealing with a tight budget for years now.
It’s possible that other players have been put on waivers without reporting reaching the public, though teams are usually making such players available as a way to try to save money, so those other guys might have similar salary obligations to Kiner-Falefa.
Photo courtesy of Denis Poroy, Imagn Images
Bad timing.
If only the Padres had the money to sign outfielder Kyle Tucker in the off-season. In San Diego, Kyle would get the perfect nickname, “Friar Tuck”.
One of the worse contracts in MLB history.
Say that to Albert Pujols or Anthony Rendon or even Mike trout
Rendon one was weird weird weird. Pujols Trout were simply to make $ what they did on the baseball field didn’t really matter although both provided value.
Padres paid for a young SS with inflated fenway stats and received a old 2b not in fenway. Who isn’t much of a star. Pujols Trout not just stars but super stars. Rendon though just awful and also not a star doesn’t even like baseball.
Not even in the top 5. Strasburg, Corbin, Pujols, Rendon, Cabrera, Price, Bryant. All were far worse and that is just off the top of my head. Bogaerts has at least produced positive WAR when healthy. Over 7 WAR to date.
Mike Hampton – lower amounts so not as obvious but was a long time ago so when time is factored in, it was a massive amount for the time.
Hasn’t hit 20 homers or driven in 60 runs since coming to San Diego. Pujols wasn’t the same Pujols as he was in St. Louis but still had multiple seasons of hitting 30 homers and driving in 100 runs.
Hell I would take Pujols in his last season over any season Bogaerts has had in San Diego so far.
7.2 WAR for 76.5 mil so far. WAR worth about 9 mil so the math is close enough to keep it out of the “worst contract in baseball conversation” even if it’s just for now.
let’s see what his total war contributions are in 8 years, when his deal ends lol. He’s treading water already at 32 and is owed $25 million a season. It’s gonna be near the top or number one by 2034 imo.
DarrenDreifortsContract…..you do realize Xander Bogaerts is a Shortstop right?
Comparing his production to Pujols….a 1B/Dh is ridiculous
300 million for averaging 13 home runs 50 rbi .270 ba a season
But lets talk about a made up stat lol.
So shortstops can hit homers and drive in runs all of sudden?
Why exactly did they give him 300 million?
Great idea and I totally agree – go back under your rock until the contract is over and we will discuss then.
See ya
Darren – I’m pretty old school and never been close to a stat geek but to classify any particular stat as “made up” makes no sense.
All stats are a defined calculation of elements.
What anyone wants to do or no do with said stats are up to them.
WAR is no good to compare a 1b to a SS or a SP or a RP but when the $$ amount is calculated then it is a fair reference for what any particular player brings to a team in relation to a replacement person being there instead.
DDC
“Hell I would take Pujols in his last season over any season Bogaerts has had in San Diego so far.”
LOL
Here’s Darren Dreifort trying to be everybody’s buddy in the comment section again. Man, you really have a way with people, are you in sales??
Pujols averaged 1.2 WAR with the Angels. Only his first season was over 4 WAR. His last 2 season he had negative WAR. Over his last 5 seasons there he had a -2.4 WAR. He cost the team wins by playing.
Bogaerts had a 4.2 WAR his first season in San Diego and has put up 7.2 WAR in his first 3 seasons with the Padres. His WAR/162 is 3. His problem has been health.
Pujols put up over 10 WAR his first 3 years with the Angels.
Pujols put up 1.2 WAR per season with the Angels. His last 5 seasons combined he had a -2.4 WAR.
Let’s see what Bogaerts does for the rest of the contract. It’s a bit disingenuous to compare the first 3 years of one long contract to the last 5 years of another long contract. I thought the first 3 years of both was a better comparison.
Josh Hamilton – not as many years but AAV (especially back then) for literally nothing for 3 years?
Chris Davis is my contribution to this thread.
Either one of them!
Forgot to mention prince fielder
Giancarlo Stanton was a huge overpay but he produced an MVP season and is good whenever he bats so he probably doesn’t count
Chris Davis!!!
Ellsberry one of worst. Betting on speed defense to age well terrible bet.
Miggy was already under contract few years I believe so that’s always poor decision buy high.
Any pitcher is poor odds.
Google when Pujols signed and when Angel’s got their billion dollar tv deal. One of the best contracts ever.
I always thought the local TV station paid for that contract by upping their offer in return for signing Pujols.
maybe brush on your MLB history. not a great contract but I don’t think it even makes the top 10 worst
Try any Mets big signing if you want top ten. Mo Vaughn. Bobby Bonilla. Just to name the top two worst. Cespedes and gilkey. Jason bay. Vince Coleman.
It isn’t as bad as Darren Dreifort’s contract, though.
Chris Davis says “Hey!”
Agree
340 mil for ex juicer with no power Tatis worse
Disappointing tenure in sd so far
BUT
8 more yrs to go
If he can stay healthy
Could get to 3000 hits
lmao
Impossible for him to get to 3,000. Lets see him get to 2,000 first.
he has 1,817hits. averaged 178 since he was a rookie
8 seasons left on contract
3,000 is not only possible but perhaps even likely
his tmmate machado also has a solid chance @ 3000
ya’ll just disgruntled padre fans
He hasn’t averaged 178 since he was a rookie. It says 177 per 162 game average. He’s not playing 162 games a season through 2033.
@css
ok. lets assume he’s gonna miss a bunch of games.
not counting his 1st season where he had 40 atbats and not counting covid season, he has averaged 144 games and 159 hits. thats still nearly 3100 hits by the time his contract ends. not saying its a sure thing. but health permitting he has a good chance. san diego fans are so upset with him that they cant even fathom a rational thought like 3000 hits. lifetime benchmarks are becoming very rare these days. 500 hrs, 3000 hits, 300 wins. cant we enjoy the idea of someone achieving a great lifetime feat in this game?
I hope he gets there, don’t get me wrong.
Good chance he’ll be out of BB in five years.
Stick to day trading stocks if you think 5 years lol
From 2014, his rookie season, through 2024 Bogaerts has averaged 153 hits per season. Take out the shortened 2020 season and he has averaged 162 hits per full season.
He has an outside shot at 3000 but will more than likely end up around 2600-2700. That is still Top 100 all time.
No way to denigrate him as a player without making yourself look extremely stupid.
I’m going to say he probably won’t, but definitely not ready to declare it impossible. He’s at 1,817 and has 8 years left on his deal. If he can stay healthy for all 8 of those years he would only need to average 148 hits a year to get there. His 162 game average is 177, which leaves ample room for decline to drag his average down over time without sacrificing the total figure.
The reason I think he probably doesn’t is for health, it’s just impossible to know or project who is going to stay healthy for that long and who isn’t. As a 32 year old at a high action position who is already starting to have issues with the injury bug, it’s easy to say he probably won’t have the health and longevity, but hey stranger things have also happened.
Brother, if anyone who is “disgruntled” it’s mostly you, chandlerbing, get a grip
DW
An actual reasonable perspective here on MLBTR. Wow! Kudos.
Next man up!
There’s no one left
There’s always another warm body, butter…
Preller is microwaving cadavers
He’s using the air fryer…
@Hired Air friar!
Candle…yes! Hahahaha
He has not been able to stay healthy since signing with the Padres.
He played 155 games his first year in SD, and put up almost his exact career averages in most categories. Then, he got hurt.
Blame Mark Prior.
A tough break — so to speak.
IKF come on down?
Already have Jose Iglesias on roster so no need for IKF in SD.
There is a very good chance Bogaerts doesn’t return this season so IKF would offer some versatility on the bench. Pirates are paying everything but the prorated league minimum so why not?
IKF >> McCoy. What if Iglesias gets hurt?
IKF is much better option against RHP than Iglesias who is posting sub .500 OPS against RHP.
I guess it’s OMG time.
Merrill to back this week, back to CF. Keep Sheets in LF, Laureano to RF, Tatis back to SS.
Easy Peezy 😉
I was thinking keep Ramon in CF and Merrill back to SS…?
I hate the disruption in September (almost) and Merrill is GG caliber. That said, in 2026, it could be a consideration to solve the problems. X to 2b and Cro to 1b. Maybe not my first option but an option to look at.
Tatis was injury prone @ SS and is not going back there according to Schildt and Preller.
They must find ABs for Sheets with a rotational plan LF 1B and DH.
Good problem to have.
Iglesias is find @ SS,
IKF over McCoy any day of the week.
Even Urías would be a step up over Iglesias and McCoy.
Wicho reunion
That actually was my thought before the X announcement even.
Shortstop shouldn’t be the hardest position to fill. The options are: iglesias, Cronenworth, Merrill, and Tatis.
Date we say T Wade? Also the Wagner pickup? I haven’t explored his history.
I think the only way they bring Wade back is if Shildt tells AJ he doesn’t have enough bunters.
Jake full time SS, Arraez back to 2B, OHearn FULL TIME 1B!!! I would argue that even when healthy X is the fourth best SS on the team all things considered. Jake has more than enough arm strength to move back to his natural position. Joe Church is not an everyday player any longer.
The point is though your solution is extremely unlikely, even if they did that, Urias and IKF are upgrades over Iglesias and McCoy and shou in d be considered. I can’t imagine a stretch run with McCoy on the roster for more than a day or so.
He’s actually been very good since he changed his stance. Been one of the best hitters in the NL
Yeah he’s been pretty darn good these past two months. He has a 2.3 fWAR (16th in MLB) while hitting .303/.362/.472 with a 136 wRC+.
He’ll be missed!
Look on the bright side, with a team full of Shortstops, shouldn’t be too hard to replace him.
You guys make it sound like going from OF to IF for any stretch of time this late in the season is a walk in the park. You really don’t have to be so obvious that you have never played the game.
Dan – I’m not opposed to the basic assertion you are making but it can also be said that these 2 players are elite At Helene’s they have played more years of their lives at SS than OF so maybe, for all of us that have not ever played MLB level or even been that elite we should allow for the possibility that we don’t have any idea how easy or hard it might be for them.
A little grace.
It’s a totally different game. Different glove. Ball on you faster. Plays in the IF are much faster and complicated. Cutoffs. Covering bags on DP and SB. The throw is different. Ask Betts how hard it was. And he played IF before too. Better to get an experienced hand this late in the season that can hit better than Iglesias and McCoy. Besides Tatis, Cronenworth and Merrill play GG caliber defense at their current positions. Why move them? Not trying to be flippant or insulting. But I don’t see dong the moves suggested as helpful towards a pennant drive.
I never said they should be moved – I cautioned your “I know more than you” approach. I said above I don’t like a move in September (but maybe for 2026 as an option to look into).
A guy like a Tatis or Merrill has played their entire life at SS and less than 2 and 3 years in OF – which they adjusted to easily.
I’m only suggesting that it is at least possible that you could be incorrect and that maybe that caliber of athlete can go back to their lifelong position easier than you think.
Gotcha
Not to mention these guys got moved off of ss for a reason. That Padres sign Xander for a reason.
Padres tried to sign Turner and judge. They were looking for a bat. At that time Xander was the thirds best bat available.
Merrill moved to center last year when they had Xander and Kim at short. Xander has been a good shortstop and Merrill has been good at center.
I’m sure the padres would like to keep them in those positions but now they have to either try something bold or ride out Iglesias most or all the rest of the season.
The reason to consider moving one of cronenworth, tatis or Merrill to short is to also get sheets bat in the lineup. When Merrill returns next week one of Arraez, Ohearn or sheets will be on the bench.
So the big question is do you give up some defense for some offense. Iglesias had two hits yesterday. So my guess is they rides with him at short at least for a bit.
The hope is Xander is back in 3 weeks. We shall see.
Less than 1% chance they move Merrill or Tatis to short. I think Croney could see some time there if it’s anyone other than Iglesias or McCoy.
Yeah with Shildt I fully expect Iglesias to play everyday at short.
That could make sense. Better be on him quick though. Guarantee he’s got multiple teams who have already reached out.
“The Padres have been dealing with a tight budget for years.”
Just letting everybody know in case you haven’t heard…
spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025
8th highest Payroll = tightwads
🤪
I was stunned when Cease King Arraez wasn’t placed on waivers today.
“now trying to trade”
whom exactly? TDL has passed…
It’s a little known secret that the Pads were “all-in” while their previous owner was alive. Without him, there was no chance of Preller re-signing Soto, so he flipped him.
Here in Boston we love Xander the person and appreciate what he did for us helping win two titles. But there was absolutely no way we were committing to him for 11 years at $280 million.
Surpassed Hosmer as worst deal in Padres history.
No team was! They all have this brand new super ai tech that shows how a player hits at home vs on the road. SD just has that tight budget they been dealing with for years and couldn’t afford a smart phone.
Bogaerts declining power and offensive production make his signing and contract even worse for the small market Padres …
AJ Preller’s solution to the problem?!
SS Leo Devries was traded to the A’s for Mason Miller when the Padres already has 3-4 All Stars in their bullpen?!
Preller just
gambled away their future, young cost controlled, star SS for what?!
Bragging rights to winning the trade deadline. Closer Mason Miller was not really needed by the Padres.
Devries has already hit for the cycle and plays great D
Dsvries could be starting in the majors by early ’26.
Now, Devries will be starting and starring for the Sacramento A’s.