The Padres announced they have selected the contract of infielder Mason McCoy. Infielder Matthew Batten has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding active roster. To open a 40-man spot for McCoy, outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Tatis has already been on the IL for 60 days, so he can return as soon as he’s healthy. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune relayed the McCoy and Batten moves on X prior to the official announcement.
McCoy, 29, signed a minor league deal with the Padres in the offseason. He has played 108 games for Triple-A El Paso this year with a .260/.329/.382 batting line, which translates to a wRC+ of 79, indicating he’s been 21% below league average.
He has never been much of a hitter, having slashed .239/.318/.400 for a wRC+ of 80 in 458 Triple-A games since the start of 2021. His major league work consists of just one plate appearance with the Blue Jays last year, though he did get into six games overall, mostly as a defensive replacement. He has a reputation as an excellent defender and frequently racks up double-digit steal totals, including 25 this year.
The Padres recently lost shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to the injured list, which has moved utility player Tyler Wade into regular shortstop action. McCoy can provide the Padres with depth all over, as he has played all the infield positions to the left of first base, in addition to some outfield work. Based on his skills, he might be ticketed for a lot of late-game work, either on defense or on the basepaths. He still has a full slate of options and just a few days of service time, so the Padres could keep him around for a while if they so choose.
As for Tatis, as mentioned, this is just a formality. He landed on the IL June 24, retroactive to June 22, due to a right femoral stress reaction. Today’s transfer is retroactive to that June 22 date, meaning he can be reinstated at any point. It was reported earlier this week that he could be back in the middle of next month.
Padres call up a glove first SS and option a bat first SS? Kim must be hurt more than they are letting on.
Funny you think Batton is a bat first guy. No disrespect but he can’t hit.
his name is batten though…. is this a case of non- nominative determinism?
Dare I say that mri came back with bad results for Kim and his SD career may be over?
Has to be a reason why the switch to McCoy who is the AAA SS.
They have said he prob didn’t even need a full 19 days off. This move is because none of Wade or batten hit well anyways. So might as well has the best defender
Yet, they choose Batten and now, a day later, based on what, has he proved they he can’t hit?
I mean between the call up and now.
If they wanted McCoy they knew where to find him 2 days ago.
It doesn’t make sense they they are switching from Batten to McCoy after 1 day because Batten can’t hit.
It could be that Wade’s performance last night (2 IF singles to short by Minnesota) gave the team enough pause against rolling with him as the full-time replacement while Kim’s out. Also with Peralta and Arraez starting most days, their only lefty option off the bench would’ve been Johnson. I think they gave it a shot and realized that not only does Wade not have the defensive chops to be an everyday starter, but he’s more valuable to the team off the bench.
Straight – I only saw the first one but that one was a hit all the way. He did a great job to get to it.
I guess the lack of faith in Wade as defender is the best argument so far.
That said, with McCoy being so bad with bat, give Cro a shot and get Solano on the order every day.
Thanks for the correction (I only watched the recap, so I should’ve mentioned that). I’m still a bit baffled as to why Bogaerts can’t/won’t play SS for a week or two.. would prefer to have him at SS, Crone at 2B, and Soriano at 1B.
As to Bog I think it’s a mental/emotional thing after making the switch and knowing 2b is where he is going to be. Soto accepted LF switch but stated he needed to stay 1 or the other as opposed to flip flopping.
He likely believes that it will not help him or the team to switch back and then switch back again.
I like Cro for 10 days to get Solano in the lineup. This team needs some offense. Even I. The wins they have not been scoring, i.e., at Colorado against the worst staff and couldn’t score any runs.
Bogey was a late game replacement at SS when they rightfully PH for Wade. McCoy fills the role as late game defensive replacement instead of manuvering Bogey and Cron and someone onto 1st. This totally makes since in the short term. McCoy is much better than Batten defensively.
Meanwhile, Kim is fine and should be back August 30
The offense is fine; I wouldn’t read too much into Coors. The team seems to get outplayed there every year. The quality of the SP is still the team’s biggest stumbling block. It’d be great to get Darvish back for the stretch and knock Waldron out of the rotation, but I understand he’s got more important things going on.
Waldron is becoming 2022’s Manaea, at least over last 10 starts.
@Longtimecoming It could be that figuring out what you’re describing with Xander is why they want McCoy right now instead of their initial choice Batten. If they were going to slide over X it’s more plausible for Batten to be used at 2B.
Now that it’s known Xander isn’t moving over they would have Cronenworth, Xander, Arraez, Solano, and Batten for the right side of the infield and Batten is buried deep on that depth chart. If Xander doesn’t want to switch between positions, it makes sense to call up someone who can play SS
Waldron to pen (or IL). Vasquez or Brito takes his spot unless Yu returns.
Brew, you may have hit it. If Bog waited until after that late inning replacement to tell staff that he didn’t want to do the SS switch, this could justify an “oh crap, we should have run that by him before we selected Batten” situation.
I think fans seem to agree that Cro should get a shot for 8 games if Kim is coming back on time. That said, Cro may have told them it isn’t a good idea or maybe his SS range has deteriorated over the last 3 years.
I could see these convos creating a “better get McCoy up here” but, still just have to believe that all of this should have been addressed a day earlier and just grabbing McCoy to begin with.
One of those, “it really doesn’t matter” situations but a curiosity as to why.
He becomes the Brice Johnson of the infield?
Here’s hoping McCoy can get his first career hit… and many more to follow!
Go Pads
The Real McCoy!
Could be after pinch hitting for Wade last night and having to ask Bogaerts to play short for the 9th inning that Schildt wanted to have a backup infielder who could play SS as Bogaerts had made mention that is is now sued to 2nd and would rather not have to switch back and forth.
Beersy – could be just that. I find myself asking why the powers to be couldn’t have had they scenario in mind a day prior though when Batten was selected.
Just didn’t think of it?
Batten was on the 40 man, maybe just needed a day to figure out the corresponding move (Tatis to the 60 Day IL).
They could have put Tatis on the 60 2 days ago though so they can’t be it. Good thought though.
Spot on beersy
So did Batten just piss someone off, or what?
He’s not a true SS, but he was the best available option for just one game until they found another SS
I agree with the first part but wasn’t McCoy just as available?
Yes, but according to Kim’s interpreter and Shildt the decision on whether Kim was going to IL wasn’t made until Tuesday. Batten was the immediate (available) call up until they could get McCoy in place (no doubt after some conversations among coaches and players like Bogey and Cronz)
I could be wrong,I can only remember Batton playing third base, second base and maybe first base with the Padres when he was up. I don’t remember him playing shortstop.
He def is not a glove first SS and I’d prefer McCoy get the nod. Just wondering why the day 2 switcheroo.
Curiosity meter is pegged. It isn’t like they didn’t know McCoy was a better defender 2 days ago.
Batten’s listed as 1B/2B/3B on Baseball Reference. Looks like he got in 1 inning at SS last year plus a couple games at LF in 2022 at the MLB level.
Probably just wanted a natural SS who can also play other spots. McCoy has ~5400 innings logged at SS in the minors. compared to Batten at 1700 innings.
Batten ain’t battin
Best of luck to another former Oriole farmhand. I respected his glove, seemed like a good kid. Always good to see former Baltimore players continue their dream. Go Hawkeyes!
Move Jake to short. Solano and Arraez are capable first baseman. Jake is an upgrade on offense and defense. Tyler Wade should never start at SS.
There was initial reporting that Rake would take SS if Kim was going to be out for extended period.
Tatis is running out of “next months”. It’s a bummer.
Brew will your Giants release Snell to save a couple mil and give Padres a chance to pick him up?
Losing last night allows the Pads a chance before AZ!
Looks like SD can cover 1 month and stay under tax penalty – even if Yu comes back.
My Giants?
I don’t think they will release him; can they even do that in the contract?
Sure they can.
Well if the Giants release him I’m sure he’ll go unclaimed
Yeah, assume he will opt out so why not save 5-6 mil for the month of Sept. do it now so any team would be incentivized to claim him so he can be on post season roster.
I’d say SD, Atl, LAD, Bal – any team believing they are in that needs a SP with his pedigree to icrease odds of WS for 5 mil investment.
LAA dropped a few guys last year to save some bucks.
It would be amazing LT. I have to admit I hadn’t thought about that outcome
Why would he go unclaimed? Any contender could use him.
Was joking 619