Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. News Emerges Amid MLB Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 2:05 PM ET

The San Diego Padres are in the midst of a busy offseason, looking to retool the roster and remain in postseason contention while maintaining payroll flexibility.

As a result, Fernando Tatis Jr. briefly emerged as a potential trade candidate, given his contract is considered affordable and any contender would welcome his level of production.

However, the Padres quickly shut down that speculation on Monday, making it clear they intend to build around Tatis rather than move him to reshape the roster.

It is easy to see why, given the player Tatis is and what he means to both the team and the fan base. The 26-year-old outfielder captured the Platinum Glove Award in right field this year, an honor given to the best defensive player in each league.

His bat remains a force as well, as he posted a .268 batting average, a .368 on-base percentage, an .814 OPS, 25 home runs and 71 RBIs across 155 games.

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23)© Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

As Fernando Tatis Jr. prepares for his seventh season in San Diego, he will remain active off the field after making a decision away from MLB on Tuesday.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Tatis and teammate Manny Machado will join Team Dominican Republic to participate in the World Baseball Classic ahead of the 2026 season, representing their country.

“Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. will play for Albert Pujols in the WBC,” Nightengale wrote on X.

This will mark Tatis’s first appearance in the tournament, as he did not play in the March 2023 edition due to his suspension for PEDs earlier in his career. Adding to the family connection, his father, Fernando Tatis Sr., will serve as the Dominican Republic’s hitting coach.

Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr will play for Albert Pujols in the WBC
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 9, 2025

The World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5–17, 2026, ensuring it will not affect Tatis’s availability for the 2026 MLB season, where he will look to continue dominating every aspect of the game.

Tatis has already collected a long list of individual accolades over the course of his six-year career, including two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, two Platinum Gloves and three All-Star selections. When his focus eventually returns to the Padres, he will aim to translate that individual success into team success as San Diego attempts to break through in October.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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