Tatis released a statement via the MLB Players Association (Twitter link): “I was notified by Major League Baseball that a test sample I submitted came back positive for Clostebol, a banned substance. It turns out that I accidentally took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol. I should have used the resources available to me to ensure that there were no banned substances in what I took. I couldn’t do it. I want to apologize to (owner Peter Seidler), (president of baseball operations AJ Preller), the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my mistake and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love. … I am completely devastated. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be on the field competing with my teammates. … I look forward to getting back on the court with my teammates in 2023.“ The Padres released a brief statement on the news: “It is with surprise and great disappointment that we learned today that Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and subsequently received an 80-game suspension without pay. We fully support the Program and hope that Fernando will learn from this experience.” Preller confirmed to reporters (including Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Dennis Lin of the Athletic) that the organization learned of the suspension this afternoon, about two hours before it was made public. The Padres’ baseball manager was candid about his frustration, saying “over the last six or seven months, I think (confidence was) something that we haven’t really been able to have.” This probably refers to the motorcycle accident that broke Tatis’ wrist. Preller continued, “I think hopefully from the offseason until now, there will be some maturity. And obviously with the news today, it’s more of a pattern and something to dig into a little more. I’m sure he’s very disappointed, but at the end of the day, it’s one thing to say it. You have to start by showing it with your actions.” Tatis will go the entire 2022 season without appearing in a major league game. (USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that he will also be barred from representing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next spring). The star shortstop suffered a fractured left wrist in an offseason motorcycle accident, an injury that was revealed when he reported to the team in Spring Training. He underwent surgery and was out of action for months. There’s finally light at the end of the tunnel, with Tati sent down to Double-A on a rehab assignment last week. He had played in four minor league games and was due to return to the big leagues in a few weeks. This will no longer be the case. The Padres have 48 more games on the regular season schedule. That would leave him eligible to miss as many as the first 32 games of the 2023 season, though Tatis’ suspension would be reduced for any playoff games he misses (if the Padres make the postseason this year). It’s a crushing blow for a San Diego team that enters Friday night’s game in possession of the National League’s final Wild Card spot. They’re just one game away from the Brewers, setting the stage for a hotly contested pennant race. If they want to reach the postseason, the Friars will have to do so without the elite midseason reinforcement they relied on. That doesn’t mean the Padres are doomed. They’ve been without the two-time Silver Slugger all season, and yet they’re 12 games over .500 with a +40 run differential. The bottom line for adding Juan Soto and Josh Bell seems bigger than ever now. San Diego still has a fearsome middle of the order anchored by Soto, Bell and Manny Machado, while Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar have hit at above-average levels. There’s no way to replace a player who has a .292/.369/.596 slash line in his first three major league seasons, but the Padres are in as good a position as a team can reasonably be to overcome Tatis’ absence. They have gotten strong play from Ha-Seong Kim in his second MLB season. The former KBO star is hitting .247/.324/.371 through 392 plate appearances, right around league average by wRC+. Public metrics have pegged Kim as one of the top defensive arms in the sport, making him more than adequate for the rest of the season. Perhaps the biggest roster twist is that San Diego now has little option to replace center fielder Trent Grisham. Tatis was slated to play both shortstop and center field on his rehab assignment, and he may well have gotten more time in the outfield. While Kim has effectively held shortstop all year, Grisham has a .195/.292/.357 line in 411 trips to the plate. He has continued as the starting center fielder, though Wil Myers has gotten the nod the last three times the Friars have faced an opposing lefty starter. Skipper Bob Melvin wants to stick with at least a soft platoon formation for the run. While the team will feel the strongest effects across the board this year, Tatis’ lack of availability in 2022 should be a concern for the organization long term. He is under contract for 12 more seasons beyond this one with the extension he signed in February 2021. This $340MM deal is the fourth largest in MLB history and arguably none more important to the long-term future of the franchise. This deal is loaded. Tatis’ lost salary during the suspension, while significant, isn’t nearly as significant as it would be if he had tested positive a few years from now. He will forfeit the remainder of this year’s $5 million (about $1.5 million) salary as well as about a month of next year’s $7 million salary. The extent of his salary forfeiture depends on how many games he misses next season, which depends on how far the Friars go in the playoffs this year. He is likely to lose about 20% of the program, which will translate to about $1.3 million in lost salary next year. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported that Tatis failed a PED test and was facing a suspension. Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
