MLB Insider: Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is NOT available via trade

Despite rumors, the San Diego Padres have not made superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. available via trade, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The Padres want to build around Tatis and have no plans to trade him.

“He’s not available,” one source said.

Tatis has a no-trade clause through 2028 and gets 10-5 rights after that, so he controls his fate – and where he potentially plays — for the remainder of his career. What makes Tatis so intriguing is that he’s still only 23. He’s signed to a 14-year, $340 million contract which, in this current market,  appears to be a team-friendly deal as he’s arguably the most talented shortstop in baseball.

MLB rumors: Padres will not trade Fernando Tatis Jr.

Besides, if the Padres were to trade Tatis now, they would be trading him when his value has arguably never been lower. He broke a bone in his left wrist and had surgery last March. He underwent shoulder surgery in August after being suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

Tatis Jr.’s name was floated on New York sports radio Monday morning, in which former Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro claimed he ‘heard’ the Yankees could be in on the Padres star.

Tatis still has 20 games remaining on his suspension. When he returns, he will join a lineup that features Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth, among others. While it remains unclear what position he will play defensively, the Padres are optimistic that he will regain his form from the 2021 season in which he hit .282/.364/.611 with 42 home runs and 97 RBI.

So yes, while the trade market will surely heat up in the coming days and weeks, the Padres are not trading Tatis. He will be in San Diego in 2023 and beyond.