Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr. Trade Report Emerges

There is one exception: Fernando Tatis Jr., the team’s 26-year-old right fielder, who remains an exciting talent and a huge asset. Tatis is signed to a 14-year, $340 million contract, and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, he is the most likely candidate to be traded.

“They certainly don’t want to trade him, and still may not listen now, but with all of their bloated and back-loaded contracts, someone is going to eventually have to depart. And no one making big money has more trade value than Tatis, whose 14-year, $340 million contract suddenly looks rather reasonable,” Nightengale reported on Monday.

While the financial commitment is significant, Tatis’s production makes the deal look increasingly team-friendly compared to what other stars are earning, such as New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto.

Tatis posted a .268 batting average, .368 on-base percentage, .814 OPS, 25 home runs and 71 RBIs over 155 games in 2025. He also excelled defensively, earning both a Gold Glove and the Platinum Glove Award as the National League’s top overall defender.

Tatis is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner who has consistently delivered in high-pressure moments. He has proven to be a riser in the MLB playoffs, showcasing his ability to impact games on both sides of the ball. With nine seasons remaining on his contract, his combination of age, production and cost certainty would still command a worthy prospect haul.

The Padres now face a difficult decision: whether to trade their most valuable asset or find a way to keep Tatis while still fielding a competitive roster. Tatis would return significant value if the Padres choose to pivot while still aiming to contend. If they elect to keep him, building a competitive roster around his contract may prove too difficult given the current financial constraints and long-term commitments already in place.