The MLB offseason can be slow and laborious for members of the media, and there are still deadlines and submission requirements that have to be met. It seems that every offseason one of the main talking
points around the San Diego Padres is Fernando Tatis Jr. and whether the Padres should look to trade the superstar. The 2025 offseason has proven to be no different as a report from USA Today sports columnist Bob Nightengale claimed Tatis Jr. could be a Padres trade candidate this offseason.
As would be expected, this led to speculation around the fanbases of the league and it garnered more thought than what should reasonably be expected. There are several reasons that a trade of Tatis Jr. would not happen with the foremost being that he has a full no-trade clause in his contract. Beyond that point, Tatis Jr. has long been considered the player the franchise would build around and that has not changed. Additionally, the fanbase would revolt and the record number of sellouts would stop if it appeared the team was tearing down the roster by trading away a player of his caliber for what would assume to be a bevy of prospects.
Padres fans have their issues with Tatis Jr. and that would be the same with any player on any team around the league, but it does not mean he is not wanted in San Diego. Anyone who says otherwise is probably a contrarian looking to spark a conversation or debate. There are complaints about his body language after a bad appearance at the plate or his laissez-faire attitude when talking to the media about his own or the team’s struggles, but that does not mean he is not the kind of player that 29 other teams in MLB would add to their roster in a heartbeat if given the chance. The fans of those teams seem to feel the same way.
At the end of the day, Tatis Jr. is a generational talent, who is still working to become the player his talents show he could be. Two Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards in two out of three seasons in right field is the perfect example of that. The defense is at an All-Star level, and while the offense can be bumpy at times, the fact is no pitcher is comfortable on the mound with Tatis Jr. in the box. Perhaps that is why they seem to throw at him more than most. That is the next hurdle for Tatis Jr. to overcome, learning how to counter what opposing pitchers are doing to make him uncomfortable at the plate to get in his head.
It is easy to forget that Tatis Jr. is still just 26 years old. Sure, he is an adult, playing a game and making millions of dollars to do so, but he has been growing up on a baseball field in front of our eyes since he reached the majors in 2019. The Friar Faithful should reject any notion that trading Tatis Jr. would be a good move for this team or the franchise. The Padres said just that in a report from San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee.
Tatis Jr. will be in San Diego for years to come, and that is not changing this offseason or any offseason in the near future.
