Parents general manager AJ Preller said Monday that he does not believe the economic consequences of the pandemic will affect the team’s ability to sign star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. to a long-term extension this offseason.
“I think it’s going to be more of a conversation about what we see as its value in terms of contract and what it wants to do directionally and see if we can align with a dollar amount,” Preller said.
“But he is a priority. I think your situation is a priority.
I think we are in a position to try to reach an agreement. We’ll see what happens here during the rest of the low season. We’ll see if we can do that. “
Tatis has one more season before starting salary arbitration and was four years out of control of the team before he became a free agent after the 2024 season, when he would only be 25 years old.
He hit .277 / .366 / .571 with 17 homers and 11 steals this season and finished fourth for the National League MVP award.
Preller acknowledged last month that there was “interest from both parties” over a contract extension in a Zoom call at the end of the season.
Mars hope for the D-Backs
In a shortened 60-game season, Ketel Marte had a good campaign this year with the Diamondbacks, but not as spectacular as in 2019, when the Dominican was called up to his first All-Star Game.
His batting line of .287 / .323 / 409 in 195 plate visits in 2020 doesn’t look so bad, but with two homers and OPS + of just 95, Mars didn’t look so much like the 2019 star that batted .329 / .389 / .592 with 32 home runs, 92 RBIs and OPS + of 148.
What will be your position
That season, Mars split between Central Garden and Second Base, with some play on the court field. This year, with the acquisition of compatriot Starling Mars, Ketel is seen mostly in the middle. But with Starling traded to the Marlins in August, the question about Ketel is, once again: What will be his position for 2021?
“We haven’t built the roster completely yet,” Lovullo said as he addressed the issue. “I would love to say it will be our second base or our torpedo boat or our central garden, but we know we can play anything from positions no matter the circumstances.”
Since 2019, when AJ Pollock Garden signed with the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks have taken advantage of Mars ’fitness and versatility to place both in the central forest and in the inner box. That first year, the Quisqueyan had -3 Outs Above Average as a gardener, but in general is not spoken in a song to expected catches and catches made. In 2020, their sample was quite small, but the Diamondbacks did not become the prairies. “I have a strong belief that he is dynamic enough to play three positions in the diamond as well as anyone else in the game,” said Lovullo. “If I had to guess right now, it would be a combination of (second and central garden), but these are things that can change minute by minute based on staff.”