Padres Sign INF Adam Rosales to Minor League Contract

With Clint Barmes non-tendered, the Padres were looking for their defensive utility infielder. They appear to have (settled) found one on infielder Adam Rosales, who was signed to a minor league contract by the team.

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While the rumors have only intensified recently over the Padres pursuit of free agent targets Ian Desmond and Alexei Ramirez, the signing of Rosales does give them a utility infielder who is defensively minded if they do find an offensive shortstop like one of the two men listed above.

After some of the recent trades, they finally do have some good shortstops coming up in the system, including Carlos Asuaje from the Red Sox as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade. While signing Desmond is a risk given that last year was his worst one yet as a major league player, they are certainly hoping he could be the most offensively minded shortstop they have had since Khalil Greene – which isn’t saying much.

The tricky part to signing him is that he is likely to want a 3-4 year contract and the Padres may have prospects ready before then, but GM AJ Preller insists that won’t be a problem. Look no further than the signing of James Shields on that logic.

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Rosales has spent the last three seasons with the Rangers after being claimed off waivers from Oakland. Last season he hit .228 in just 114 AB’s and is a career .227 hitter. He is 32 years old and can fill in all positions of the infield as well as outfield if needed. I question how much they really need him for those roles however when they have Alexi Amarista who we all found out is much better in his super utility role than an actual starting shortstop. I would be surprised if the “Little Ninja” didn’t just resume his role as super-utility fast guy than anything else. Always good to have options.