Padres insist no smoke on Jackson Merrill to shortstop, but move could optimize lineup

The Padres are missing Xander Bogaerts at shortstop. With the veteran infielder out for the season, San Diego has turned to Jose Iglesias as their full-time shortstop for the remainder of the year, and possibly for the playoffs as well.

The problem is that replacing Bogaerts with Iglesias has left a massive hole in the lineup. Bogaerts was not playing like a superstar, but he was a nearly 2-bWAR player with a 97 OPS+. He was a league-average bat playing solid defense.

Iglesias, on the other hand, has just been bad. He has an OPS+ of 57 and has been worth -1 bWAR this season. In the past five games, since taking over the shortstop position, Iglesias is slashing .150/.150/.200. Not exactly an inspiring stat line for the 35-year-old.

Padres have a problem at shortstop, and Jackson Merrill could be the unexpected resolution

It begs the question: should San Diego consider moving Jackson Merrill back to shortstop? Merrill played the position throughout the minor leagues, and while he has fit in well in center field, he could probably still play the position. It might be just what he needs to save his season, a year filled with injuries and inconsistency.

He recently returned from the injured list, so now might be the perfect time for a position switch. Moving Merrill to shortstop would shift Ramon Laureano into centerfield, and give Ryan O'Hearn more consistent at-bats in left field.

O'Hearn, an All-Star with the Orioles, has not been hitting as well in San Diego than he did in the first half of the season with Baltimore. However, he's still a good player capable of getting hot down the stretch. His .743 OPS is a major improvement over Iglesias.

Merrill, for his part, seems to be ready to go if the team calls on him to play shortstop.

"Oh, I wish that'd be awesome," Merrill said when asked about playing shortstop. "I mean, yeah, I'll play wherever, honestly. But obviously, it's up to them."

The team could also move Fernando Tatís Jr. back to his original position of shortstop, though that also feels unlikely at this point. Tatís Jr.'s defense at shortstop was widely criticized when he played the position, and it feels like he has found a comfortable home in right field.

Last year, after their postseason exit, AJ Preller made it sound like the door has closed to Merrill and
Tatís playing shortstop again.

"Tatis winning the Platinum [Glove] two years ago, and Jackson doing a tremendous job in center field this year," said Preller. "We know that they're really good at what they do in the outfield."

Still, it's worth wondering how long the Padres can stomach Iglesias, and his sub-.600 OPS, in the lineup every day. Is Mason McCoy the answer at shortstop? Likely, no. San Diego might have to get bold and get creative to fill the gap left by Bogaerts' injury. All options should be on the table if the team is truly serious about winning.