Xander Bogaerts’ time as the Padres’ shortstop was shortlived even with the massive price tag that came with it.
One year after signing an 11-year, $280 million pact with San Diego, the team is asking him to play second base for the first time in his career, first-year manager Mike Shildt told reporters on Friday.
Xander Bogaerts will give second base a try for the Padres this season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The move will shift second baseman Ha-Seong Kim – in the final guaranteed year of a four-year, $28 million contract – over to shortstop.
Bogaerts, 31, has never played an inning at second base during his 11 seasons in the majors or his time in the minors, but Shildt made the ask during the offseason in the former Red Sox star’s native Aruba.
The manager said his admiration for Bogaerts “went through the roof” when it came to his willingness to make the change.
Shildt added that Bogaerts is “all in right now” and that he recognizes they have an “elite defender” in Kim who won a gold glove as a utility man last season.
He did leave the door open for the plan to be scrapped if things didn’t go well.
“I can’t say it’s etched in stone 100 percent,” Shildt said. “We’re gonna let him do it. See what it looks like. We’re gonna evaluate it.”
The metrics say Bogaerts, who slashed .285/.350/.440 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs last season, is an above-average defender at three outs above average, -4 defensive runs saved.
Shildt did defend his $280 million man’s defense, stressing the move was more about taking advantage of the 28-year-old Kim’s talents.
“I don’t want to misrepresent,” the manager said. “Xander Bogaerts played a really good shortstop for the San Diego Padres last year and was a positive part of us and the success that we had.”
Ha-Seong Kim fields grounders at Padres spring training on Feb. 13, 2024. AP
The Padres are coming off a disappointing 82-80 campaign after winning 89 games and reaching the NLCS the year prior.
The Padres, the surprise West Coast version of the Mets, are said to be hopeful that they can lock up Manny Machado before he opts out at the end of the season. At this point, who could doubt them?
While extending ace pitcher Yu Darvish to a $108 million, six-year deal, signing Michael Wacha to a creative contract and inking San Diego product Cole Hamels to a minor league deal within the past week alone, the Padres also have been talking to Machado’s people.
Machado has thrived in San Diego, where he has bought a home, and there’s some hope they can extend him so he won’t exercise the opt-out in his $300M, 10-year deal.
The Padres hope to secure Manny Machado to a new deal before he opts out. Getty Images
One Angels person suggested he won’t be surprised if the Padres — whose payroll is up to an unthinkable $260M — are even the high bidder for Shohei Ohtani. Though that would be a true shocker, since the huge-market Dodgers and deep-pocketed Mets could easily outbid them, it’s no surprise the Padres will try.
The Padres’ revenues are up in an almost unprecedented way. They capped Fanfest requests at 155,000 and expect 40,000 fans to attend games this year for the now NL West favorites, even over the rival Dodgers. But rivals still marvel at their efforts.
Mets manager Buck Showalter expressed faith that Kodai Senga will make the adjustment from Japan to MLB’s bigger baseball and steeper slope (the bigger issue to Senga, he said) after what Senga himself called a “so-so” throwing session in which many pitches — the ghost ball and others — were off the mark.
Kodai Senga throws a bullpen at Mets spring training on Feb. 17. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“It’ll happen at some point. It takes a while,” Showalter told The Post. “I’ve had many Japanese pitchers. They all make the adjustment.”
Perhaps MLB should make the adjustment and adopt the smaller, tackier baseball they use in Japan.
Pete Alonso said his ride from his Tampa-area home to spring training across Florida was uneventful this time. Last spring, someone ran a red light and flipped Alonso’s truck three times — though miraculously he didn’t suffer a scratch. Alonso sends thanks to Ford for the 250 model pickup. He said, “It’s the car that saved my life, so I bought another one.”
Bryce Harper has sent the Philadelphia Phillies to the 2022 World Series.
Harper’s two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning put the Phillies ahead, and Philly closed the door in the ninth for a 4-3 win over the Padres in Game 5 of the NLCS, giving the Phillies a 4-1 series victory.
The Phillies will make their first World Series appearance since 2009, when they lost to the Yankees. They defeated the Rays in the World Series the year prior.
Bryce Harper hits a go-ahead two-run home run for the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Padres on Oct. 23, 2022. AP
Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper reacts after his go-ahead eighth-inning, two-run homer against the Padres on Oct. 23, 2022. Getty Images
Bryce Harper (3) is congratulated by Phillies teammates after his eighth-inning home run against the Padres on Oct. 23, 2022. Getty Images
Philadelphia benefitted from the expanded MLB playoffs, making it as the No. 6 seed to snap a 10-year playoff drought. But the team has been on a roll since the postseason started, sweeping the Cardinals 2-0 in the wild-card round and beating the Braves 3-1 in the NLDS before taking out the Padres.
The Phillies will face either the Astros or Yankees. Houston held a 3-0 series lead in the ALCS entering Sunday’s Game 4 in The Bronx, which was delayed by rain.
Harper is hitting .419 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in the playoffs.
SAN DIEGO — Bryce Harper homered again, Kyle Schwarber hit a jaw-dropping, 488-foot drive and Zack Wheeler was brilliant in throwing one-hit ball for seven innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the San Diego Padres 2-0 Tuesday night to open the all-wild card NL Championship Series.
Wheeler and two relievers combined on a one-hitter for Philadelphia. The Phillies managed just three hits off Yu Darvish and the San Diego bullpen — the combined four hits matched the fewest ever in a postseason game.
The Phillies will try to take a 2-0 lead when they send Aaron Nola to mound to oppose Blake Snell on Wednesday afternoon. Nola is set to pitch against his brother, Padres catcher Austin Nola.
The Padres, who eliminated the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, had only four baserunners, including a single by Wil Myers in the fifth. Still, they had a chance to win in the ninth against José Alvarado.
Jurickson Profar drew a one-out walk and Juan Soto reached when third baseman Alec Bohm made an errant throwing trying for a force. Manny Machado flied out and Alvarado struck out Josh Bell for the save, looking skyward and clapping after getting the final out.
Zack Wheeler threw seven scoreless innings in the Phillies’ 2-0 NLCS Game 1 win over the Padres.Getty Images
Harper, trying to reach his first World Series, hit a high-arcing, opposite-field shot into the first row in left field with one out in the fourth. It was the fourth home run this postseason for Harper, who was playing in San Diego for the first time since his left thumb was broken when he was hit by a pitch by Blake Snell on June 25, sidelining him for two months.
Harper homered in his third straight postseason game. The two-time NL MVP, who won the award last year, has hit nine home runs in 26 career postsaseason games.
Bryce Harper belts a solo homer in the fourth inning of the Phillies’ Game 1 victory. USA TODAY Sports
Schwarber’s incredible shot on Darvish’s first pitch of the sixth had an exit velocity of 119.7 mph and was the first to reach the right field upper deck at Petco Park, which opened in 2004. It was the farthest in his career and the farthest at Petco in the Statcast Era and gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
Schwarber raised his right arm as he rounded first base and Harper stood in the dugout with his mouth agape in amazement.
They were the latest impressive home runs for the Phillies, who are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The last won the World Series in 2008. They’ve hit eight homers in seven games this postseason.
Harper joined Gary Matthews (1983) as the only players in franchise history to homer in three straight postseason games in the same year. Harper hit one homer in the wild-card series win at St. Louis and two in going 8 for 16 as the Phillies eliminated the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.
Kyle Schwarber belts a long solo homer during the sixth inning of the Phillies’ Game 1 win.USA TODAY Sports
Rhys Hoskins had an epic bat spike on a monster homer against the Braves, and J.T. Realmuto became the first catcher in postseason history to hit an inside-the-park home run.
The Phillies at times stunned Petco Park, where a sellout crowd of 44,826 was amped up for the Padres’ first NLCS appearance since 1998. It was 78 degrees at first pitch at 5:04 p.m., a big change from Saturday night’s rainstorm during the Padres’ 5-3 clinching win in the NLDS.
But Wheeler had he Padres totally off balance, allowing only a one-out walk to Juan Soto in the first and then retiring 12 straight batters until Myers singled with one out in the fifth. Wheeler then retired his final eight batters. He struck out eight and walked one on 83 pitches.
Seranthony Dominguez pitched a perfect eighth.
Darvish took the loss, allowing two runs and three hits in seven innings while striking out seven and walking one.
The Mets’ once-promising season came to a crashing halt.
They lost to the Padres 6-0 in Game 3 of the wild-card series Sunday night, eliminating them from the playoffs. They previously lost Game 1 of the series Friday night, and won Game 2 on Saturday.
Joe Musgrove gestures to Mets fans after he was checked for an illegal substance. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTChris Bassitt reacts during the second inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTFrancisco Lindor strikes out in the fourth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostPete Alonso reacts in the fifth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostMets owner Steve Cohen watches the game from his suite. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostUmpires check Joe Musgrove’s ear for an illegal substance. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Padres starter Joe Musgrove pitched seven shutouts innings and gave up just one hit. Mets starter Chris Bassitt, on the other hand, gave up three runs in just four innings pitched.
The job description was simple for Jacob deGrom — extend his Mets career by extending the Mets season.
And he began as if chasing land speed records and perfection. He retired the first six Padres in order over the first two innings with fastballs that edged toward 102 mph and sliders near 94 mph. So for two innings, he was Jacob deGrom. Unhittable and generally unfathomable — a two-pitch cyborg.
The thing, though, is he is not currently Jacob deGrom. At least not in full. He could not hold the same stuff or dominance. But he had said late in the evening after a Game 1 Mets loss that he cherished these moments and all that comes with it. “That’s what we love doing, competing, and going out there in big situations,” he offered.
He put action to those words. DeGrom did not sustain mastery. But he never lost his fight. He never lost control of this game. When deGrom needed to find big outs, he did. After disappointment last weekend in Atlanta to lose hold of the NL East and Friday night to fall behind in this wild-card series, the Mets’ stars finally came out. DeGrom was part of the galaxy.
He held the Padres to two runs in six innings — dogged over dominant. DeGrom handed a lead to Edwin Diaz. In the seventh inning. And the closer authored five key outs Saturday and by the time he was removed the Mets had blown the game open en route to a 7-3 triumph.
This tied this series at one game apiece. The teams will play a decisive game Sunday night. If it all worked out perfectly for the Mets, both clubs would fly to Southern California in the wee hours Monday morning — the Padres in tears home to San Diego; the Mets still with a whiff of victorious champagne on them to Los Angeles to take on the MLB-best Dodgers in the Division Series.
Jacob deGrom displayed grit despite not having his absolute-best stuff in the Mets’ 7-3 season-saving win over the Padres, The Post’s Joel Sherman writes.N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
But the Mets have work to do to complete the two-game winning streak necessary to launch into the next round. However, Job 1 was a one-game, season-saving winning streak Saturday night.
They produced this because Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso — empty at-bats last weekend in Atlanta and Friday night in Game 1 — both homered and both reached base three times. Brandon Nimmo had one terrific at-bat after another, slashing three opposite-field singles — one delivering a run in the fourth — plus a walk. Buck Showalter, who lost a decisive playoff game in 1995 by removing Mariano Rivera quickly as Yankee manager and another in 2016 as Orioles manager by never inserting Zack Britton, did not hesitate to get his best reliever (Diaz) into the game in the seventh inning.
And on the front end of the Mets’ first postseason win since World Series Game 3 in 2015, it was deGrom. He came out blistering, no sure thing when there was such concern about the blister on his right middle finger that abbreviated his previous start against the Braves. Beyond that, he had gone 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA in his last four regular-season starts, including allowing three solo homers in six innings to get the Mets off poorly in their pivotal series at Truist Park.
DeGrom had come off the injured list on Aug. 2. In the time since, the Mets were just 10-11 when deGrom and Max Scherzer started. The Mets had dreamed of getting to the biggest games and unleashing deGrom and Scherzer as the most formidable 1-2 starting punch in the game. But that malfunctioned in Atlanta and only worsened when Scherzer was strafed for four homers and seven runs in 4 ²/₃ innings as San Diego won the opener 7-1.
The Mets turned to deGrom, their 2022 season on life support. DeGrom announced himself with triple-digit authority. He threw 12 pitches in a 1-2-3 first inning, 10 were fastballs and seven of those were greater than 100 mph, including 101.6 mph to strike out Juan Soto and 100.9 for the first of three strikeouts against Manny Machado.
Jacob deGrom walks to the dugout after getting out of the sixth inning during the Mets’ victory.N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
But Trent Grisham’s third-inning homer tied the score at 1-1 and a fifth-inning Jurickson Profar single tied it 2-2. Soto followed Profar with a single to put runners on the corners with one out. The tying run was 90 feet away. Degrom had essentially flip-flopped his pitching profile by this point. His fastball was no longer the early-game lethal weapon. This appears to be the endurance price for missing so much pitching time the last two years.
So, deGrom relied to a greater extent on his slider and preserved his fastball for particular spots. It helped him strike out Machado and Josh Bell to retain the 2-2 tie in the fifth and, after Alonso homered to give the Mets the lead in the bottom of the inning, deGrom went 1-2-3 in a nine-pitch sixth in which he threw just three fastballs — none reaching triple digits.
But his job was done at any speed. There is still no guarantee he will make another start this season. DeGrom said he is opting out after the 2022 campaign. He did, though, help guarantee the Mets another game — a decisive one Sunday — and a chance to get to the Dodgers. That would bring more starts for Scherzer and deGrom.
DeGrom might not be fully deGrom at present. But on Saturday night, he was fully up for a season-saving fight.
Max Scherzer’s routine lately has included watching a certain superhero on the screen with his young daughters.
“We love ‘Batman’ right now,” Scherzer said Thursday before a Mets workout at Citi Field. “So I feel like I am doing some good parenting.”
Gotham City’s fate is intriguing, but the Mets will ask the 38-year-old Scherzer to put aside Batman for a night and become the Bat-misser who was signed to a three-year contract worth $130 million in part because of his postseason pedigree.
The Mets will send Scherzer to the mound Friday for the franchise’s first playoff game since 2016. In this best-of-three wild-card format the room for error is greater than in previous one-and-done days, but still not enough that a loss can be easily dismissed.
Yu Darvish, who pitched to a 0.64 ERA in his two starts against the Mets this season, will be the mound opponent. Darvish owns a 2.56 ERA in eight career starts against the Mets.
Max ScherzerRobert Sabo
Manager Buck Showalter confirmed his plan is to align his rotation based on the Game 1 result. If the Mets win, that likely would mean deploying Chris Bassitt on Saturday and trying to sweep the series without using Jacob deGrom, who could then potentially pitch Game 1 and 5 of the NLDS against the Dodgers. But if the Mets were to lose Game 1 or 2 of this wild-card round, deGrom could pitch an elimination game.
“The tiebreaker will always be what is best for these three games,” Showalter said.
He added: “One of the reasons we have been able to put together a pretty good year is we have some depth in our rotation. It’s kind of been a strength of our club that they can put their egos aside and do what is best for the team.”
Scherzer has 26 career postseason appearances with the Tigers, Nationals and Dodgers, pitching to a 7-6 record with a 3.22 ERA and 1.104 WHIP over that stretch. Most notably he won three games in the 2019 postseason, which concluded with a World Series title for Washington.
The Mets will almost certainly need a better version of Scherzer than they received last Saturday in Atlanta, where he allowed four earned runs over 5 ²/₃ innings in part of a lost weekend for the club. After that start, Scherzer turned toward refining mechanics he said were amiss.
“I just needed to clean up little things in my delivery to be consistent, where I want to execute pitches,” Scherzer said. “I have made this fix before, many times. You just get out of whack throughout the season.
“It’s easy when you win a ballgame, you don’t critique yourself as hard. But when you lose a ballgame you look at everything. It’s how you take a loss in this league. You have got to be able to take a loss to be able to critique yourself and fix what you need to fix.”
Scherzer said the oblique soreness that forced him to miss two starts late in the season hasn’t been a factor. Overall, he went 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 145 ¹/₃ innings during the regular season.
In his lone appearance against the Padres this season, he pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs on July 22 at Citi Field. Since then, the Padres have added Scherzer’s former Nationals teammate Juan Soto to a lineup that includes MVP candidate Manny Machado.
“We had a moment where we won together,” Scherzer said, referring to Soto. “But baseball does the craziest things: It makes you face each other. You have got to face your friends and go out and beat them.
“Everything is on the line. Win or go home. That is the attitude you have to have. You get to the postseason and every day feels like a must-win day and must-win game, whether it’s an elimination game or not.”
For a variety of reasons, including the Padres’ belief that Fernando Tatis Jr. didn’t need the clostebol and just made a foolish mistake, word is it’s “highly unlikely” the team will try to challenge his $340 million, 14-year contract.
Though teams are disallowed from invalidating contracts over a PED suspension, the previous mistake of the motorcycle accident or accidents that cost Tatis two-thirds of the season may have provided an opening to try to turn some or all of the contract from guaranteed to non-guaranteed. The difficulty in beating the union in a grievance and the relatively low salary this year ($5 million) were weighed, but the strong belief in Tatis as a player apparently was the biggest factor not to act. Of course, future transgressions could alter the team’s thinking.
The Padres (10-12 since the deadline) are trying to figure out why the team is going south following its great trade deadline. They believe it can’t be the manager this time, since they have Bob Melvin.
One thing we were reminded of again was that Tatis took out a big loan from Big League Advance with the promise to pay a big percentage of future earnings. Though it’s understandable many underprivileged prospects go this route, it’s curious why the son of a former MLB player who averaged $1.6 million over a 13-year career would need money and chose to do this. He reportedly gave up approximately $28 million — for a probable pittance. Yes, there’s been a lot of questionable decision-making going on in the Tatis household.
Joey Gallo’s move from Manhattan to Manhattan Beach, his new residence, has paid off (1.010 OPS in L.A.). He said he feels more comfortable seeing people in flip flops, and that his new rent is comparable to his “small” apartment on NYC’s Upper West Side. (Gallo never complained while here, to his credit, and rents are high, but if your apartment is small, and you make $10 million, get a bigger one.)
Fernando Tatis Jr. leaves a press conference with the media about his 80-game suspension.AP
The Orioles are building something good. No. 1 pick Jackson Holliday hit .409 with 10 walks and two strikeouts in his first pro-ball stop before his move to low-A Delmarva. And Adley Rutschman already looks like a superstar. The Orioles should lock him up if they have the money.
It was interesting to see Joe Maddon with a critical take on analytics since he was the Rays manager when they helped start the analytic revolution. He did have some points. Are we old-school here thinking managers should make some in-game baseball decisions?
Meantime, kudos to Cubs manager David Ross, who’s kept that outmanned team playing hard (19-13 since the break).
Arte Moreno’s best baseball decision was buying the Angels for $184 million in 2003. And selling may be an even better decision.
The Angels have a chance to become the first team to fetch $3 billion. Assist to Shohei Ohtani there.
Player of the Week: Albert Pujols, Cardinals DH. Runners-up: Justin Verlander, Astros SP; Lars Nootbar, Cardinals OF
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