Amid the flurry of moves they expect to make this offseason via trade and free agency, the Padres intend to open discussions with shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. regarding a long-term contract.

The idea would be to buy out the budding superstar’s arbitration years and lock him up into what would otherwise be his first couple years of free agency. That would mean a deal of at least six years and likely longer.

Padres General Manager A.J. Preller declined comment on what two sources said was the plan with Tatis.

The Padres believe such a preemptive move is prudent based on Tatis’ production last season, not to mention the excitement the rookie infused in the team and the fan base.


Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler has often described Tatis as “playing like his hair is on fire.” On Monday, National League Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso compared Tatis’ style of play to a “Coke bottle when you shake it up and put Mentos in it.”

Tatis, who doesn’t turn 21 until Jan. 2, finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Alonso and Braves pitcher Mike Soroka.

Tatis was considered a leading ROY contender before his season was ended in mid-August by a stress reaction in his lower back. He played in just 84 games due to the back injury and a hamstring strain suffered in April.

In 372 plate appearances, Tatis led the Padres with a .317 batting average, .379 on-base percentage, .590 slugging percentage and 4.2 WAR. He is one of four rookies ever to hit 22 homers and steal 16 bases.


The eight years and $100 million Ronald Acuna got from the Braves in April would be a likely jumping-off point for talks with Tatis. At 21, Acuna became the youngest player in history to get a nine-figure contract. The deal came after his rookie season.

Whatever Tatis costs now, the Padres believe it would be a gigantic savings over what he could command as a free agent.

Looking to fill staff

New Padres pitching coach Larry Rothschild arrived at the Omni Resort & Spa at Montelucia on Tuesday morning, shortly before he interviewed one of the candidates for the team’s bullpen coach position.

That interview was with Doug Bochtler, who served as bullpen coach under Darren Balsley the past four seasons.


The other three candidates are also in the organization: Pete Zamora, the pitching coach at Single-A Lake Elsinore; Ben Fritz, the rehab pitching coordinator; and Eric Junge, the minor league pitching coordinator.

The Padres hired Rothschild last week and moved Balsley to a special assistant role working with minor leaguers.

The bullpen and hitting coaches are the final two spots the team needs to fill to complete new manager Jayce Tingler’s staff.

The Padres recently talked to former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle with the hope he would become their hitting coach. The 62-year-old Hurdle, who was fired by the Pirates on Sept. 29, ultimately informed the Padres he is stepping away from baseball.


Green the right fit

Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer said the decision to hire former Padres manager Andy Green as bench coach was a natural fit to work alongside rookie manager David Ross.

“Taking to guys with the Padres I know well, they all said he was an excellent in-game strategist, always thought ahead very well in-game,” Hoyer said Tuesday. “… We felt that was a really good pairing for David, who hasn’t managed. Having a guy next to him, who by all accounts was really good in-game and controls information well was a really nice pairing.”

The Padres fired Green on Sept. 21 near the end of his fourth season as manager.

Geaney was Giants finalist

Sam Geaney, the Padres’ senior director of player development, was a finalist to become the Giants general manager before the team hired Scott Harris on Sunday.

