Padres Announce Contract Extension With All-Star Infielder
The San Diego Padres have World Series expectations for the 2023 season.
After losing in the NLCS last year, the Padres reloaded their roster this offseason.
One of the big additions they made was adding shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Also, the Padres will be getting Fernando Tatis Jr back at the end of April after he finishes serving his suspension.
But one player who has been a solid contributor for the Padres for many years is Jake Cronenworth.
The former All-Star has agreed to a new contract that will keep him in San Diego for the foreseeable future.
According to Bob Nightengale, the Padres have agreed to a seven-year contract extension with Cronenworth.
The #Padres officially announce infielder Jake Cronenworth’s seven-year contract extension beginning in 2024. He becomes their 4th player under contract through at least 2030.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 1, 2023
Cronenworth has made the All-Star team in back-to-back seasons and has been a key factor in the Padres’ success.
One part of his game that is valuable is the number of positions he can play.
The 29-year-old has experience playing all four infield positions.
That allows the Padres to be flexible with their lineups and get different players on the field.
If San Diego is going to get to the World Series this year, they will need Cronenworth to produce.
He will be hitting behind Bogaerts, Tatis, Juan Soto, and Manny Machado.
The RBI opportunities will be there and he has a chance to set a career-high in that category.
The Padres will be a fun team to watch this season, and for many more years to come.