San Diego Manager Mike Shildt announced on Friday that the Padres team will be moving Xander Bogaerts from shortstop to second base for the 2024 season and shifting Ha-Seong Kim back to shortstop.
Bogaerts, 31, signed an 11-year contract worth $280 million with the Padres before the last season and played shortstop almost exclusively during his 11-season Big-League career with the Boston Red Sox and San Diego. Bogaerts’ contract does not include opt-outs and has a total no-trade clause.
In the last season before signing with the Padres, Bogaerts had a batting average of .307/.377/.456, including 15 home runs, and had a career average of .292 with 1410 hits. He won two World Series championships with the Red Sox in 2013 and 2018.
Bogaerts has not played second base in the majors. “Xander Bogaerts played very well as a shortstop for the San Diego Padres last year and was a positive part for us,” Shildt said. “But now, you have a player like Kimmy who also won a Gold Glove as a utility infielder. I would never speak ill of Bogey, but he recognizes Kimmy’s value at shortstop, and he is a good teammate for that.”
The Padres finished the last season with a record of 82-80, but defense was not their main problem. They ranked sixth in MLB for efficient defense, fifth in defensive saves, and fourth in outs above average. Kim, 28, played 106 games at second base, 32 at third, and 20 at shortstop in 2023. The previous season, he played 131 games (125 starts) at shortstop with Fernando Tatis Jr. out of the season due to suspension. Kim is now set to become a free agent for the upcoming 2024 season.
