Tatis: 'I'm all about winning in San Diego' after inking 14-year deal
Fernando Tatis Jr. is excited about playing for the San Diego Padres his entire career after the team officially announced a 14-year contract extension with the shortstop on Monday.
"To the city of San Diego: We're here to stay," he said during a press conference. "I love this city, I love the fans, I love the culture, I love the vibe. I'm all about winning, and I'm all about winning in San Diego."
Tatis' deal is reportedly worth $340 million.
For those who have counted and noted that the numbers below only add up to $330 million, there is also a $10 million signing bonus. Tatis' deal also includes a full no-trade clause and does not contain any opt outs. https://t.co/q8kGDJl6xt
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) February 22, 2021
The Padres initially made Tatis a 12-year offer, but the 22-year-old said his response to president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was "Why not my whole career?"
He also mentioned wanting to play in San Diego long enough to earn a statue alongside Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman.
Tatis is one of the game's biggest stars, even after only two MLB seasons. Following a third-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, Tatis placed fourth in NL MVP voting last season, hitting .277/.366/.571 with 17 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 11 steals.
He has also signed sponsorship deals with Gatorade and Adidas, and Tatis was recently revealed as the cover athlete for the 2021 edition of MLB The Show.