San Diego Padres news: Gold Glove winners, potential free agent targets

Let’s start your Monday with some of the latest news and notes surrounding the San Diego Padres, including some hardware being bestowed to Ha-Seong Kim and Fernando Tatis Jr.

San Diego Padres news: Pair of Friars earn Gold Gloves

Kudos to both Tatis and Kim for their Gold Glove wins in right field and the utility position, respectively. Both honors are a testament to the foundational pieces the two players were for the Padres in 2023, with Kim becoming an increasingly valuable asset as the season progressed and Tatis proving all the time he spent working to successfully make the switch from shortstop to right field paid off in a big way.

There is little doubt how much the duo means to the Padres, which made it very surprising to see the name of Tatis pop up in MLB insider Bob Nightengale’s recent column as a potential trade piece for the Friars. While the rumor is just that, it was still a head-shaking thought, especially with the timing of the Gold Gloves being earned. 

San Diego Padres rumors: First base/designated hitter the main target for offseason?

Scrolling through the top 40 free agents listed by The Athletic (subscription required), there were only two players who had San Diego listed as a “best fit” for them. Those players were J.D. Martinez and Brandon Belt, a pair of 36-year-old mashers who Padres fans have seen plenty of in opposing uniforms.

While the duo makes sense, both from a roster and payroll standpoint, it appears the Padres may once again go the route of the veteran to fill the designated hitter role in 2024 (at least after Manny Machado returns to third base after his offseason surgery). The strategy backfired on San Diego last season with Nelson Cruz and Matt Carpenter laying eggs in their attempts to becomes a force for the Padres at DH. Will it work better in 2024? Padres fans certainly hope so.