Why Padres gave Fernando Tatis Jr. $340 million - The Athletic

Fernando Tatis Jr. is, if you ask some onlookers, either the Zion Williamson of baseball or closer to an analog of LeBron James. More than one Padres official raised the latter comparison Wednesday night, after Tatis had agreed to a 14-year, $340 million extension, the most stunning major-league contract in recent memory.

Sources told The Athletic the shortstop’s backloaded deal will pay him a little more than $300 million over the final 10 years — 10 years of free agency the Padres are buying out after just 143 major-league games. Those 143 games, though, have provided the most breathtaking production the franchise has ever witnessed. In several more years, Tatis effectively will receive the $300 million contract San Diego awarded his infield mate Manny Machado, albeit at a far more advanced stage of Machado’s career.

Based on talent, character and marketability, team evaluators believe such a deal will lift the fortunes of the entire franchise. The...

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