There are always hazards associated with bargain hunting. Watching Fernando Tatis Jr. guide the Padres deep into the postseason serves as a reminder to the White Sox and their supporters.
James Shields was signed to a four-year, $75 million contract by the Padres in the offseason after he had won 14 games and assisted Kansas City in making it to the World Series. However, when Padres general manager A.J. Preller informed clubs that Shields was not only available but would also cover the cost in the proper trade, San Diego was on track for a 68-win season after winning only 74 games in 2015.
On June 4, 2016, the White Sox finalized the transaction. The Padres agreed to pay $31 million of the Shields’ $58 million debt, which means Jerry Reinsdorf’s team will have to pay $27 million over the course of two and a third seasons. San Diego’s prize was essentially the White Sox farm system’s pick, and Preller decided to choose Erik Johnson, a previous second-round pick, and Tatis Jr., a 17-year-old.
Few were aware of the worth that was departing Chicago. However, a minor-league instructor said, “We did,” when a reporter later asked whether the Sox had any unheralded prospects who could make the All-Star team. The coach continued to extol Tatis.
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At least not directly, the transaction cannot be blamed for the White Sox’s decline toward this year’s 121-loss campaign. However, it certainly didn’t help to give away Tatis Jr. for a pitcher who would finish 16-35 with a 5.31 ERA.
Undoubtedly, the deal’s financial component greatly appealed to Reinsdorf and his senior baseball executives, Ken Williams and Rick Hahn. It wasn’t until they signed Andrew Benintendi in 2023 that the White Sox would spend $75 million on a free agent.
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