The Padres Have A Key Player On A Bargain Deal

The San Diego Padres aren’t exactly considered a big-market team, but they sure spend like one.

That’s fantastic for the health of baseball: evidently, they are willing to do whatever it takes to win.

They are paying big money to Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Joe Musgrove, Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Juan Soto, and Josh Hader, among others.

However, they also have young, controllable talent still on team-friendly deals that somewhat help mitigate the financial impact of those deals.

Versatile infielder Jake Cronenworth is definitely one of them.

“Jake Cronenworth and the Padres avoided arbitration with a $4.225 million deal for 2023, according to sources,” Padres insider Dennis Lin tweeted.

Jake Cronenworth and the Padres avoided arbitration with a $4.225 million deal for 2023, according to sources.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) January 13, 2023

A $4.225 million deal for a player who is capable of putting together consecutive 4.1 Wins Above Average (WAR) seasons is a bargain.

Cronenworth has been a major leaguer for three seasons, and he was an above-average hitter and plus fielder in each and every one of them.

His .770 career OPS and 114 wRC+ give him a solid floor, and his defensive prowess and versatility make him a star.

Cronenworth is capable of playing the four positions of the infield and has done it in MLB already.

He gives the team a reliable option to plug holes: when Adam Frazier was struggling, he played second.

When Tatis got injured/suspended, he played shortstop.

When the Padres realized Eric Hosmer wasn’t good, he played first base.

Every MLB team would love to have a Cronenworth on their roster.

He is under cheap control for three more seasons, and the Padres’ front office couldn’t be more happy.