Xander Bogaerts shifts to second base in $280 million Padres decision

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.

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.”

The Padres are coming off a disappointing 82-80 campaign after winning 89 games and reaching the NLCS the year prior.