The San Diego Padres plan to speak with free agent shortstop Ian Desmond this week, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
On Sunday, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reported that the Padres were in ongoing discussion with Desmond. Meeting with the 30-year-old is the next step in signing the former Washington Nationals infielder. While things are still preliminary, the two sides are just trying to see if there is even a potential fit.
The Padres offer Desmond the option getting a starting job as a shortstop, while other teams want the 6-foot-3, 215 pounder to transition to a utility man or to the outfield.
San Diego has little depth up the middle with Alexi Amarista at shortstop and Cory Spangenberg at second base, while Jose Pirela can play both positions. In 2015, Amarista (.204), Spangenberg (.271) and Pirela (.230) struggled at the dish. Spangenberg looked good with his batting average, but he ony hit four homers and 21 RBI across 108 games.
Desmond was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in his debut in 2009 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The seven-year veteran has slashed .264/.312/.424 with 110 homers and 432 RBI over 927 career games.
In 2015, the 30-year-old hit .233 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI across 583 at-bats in 156 games in Washington. Desmond's best year was in 2012, his only All-Star season. He finished with 130 games on the season, which the right-handed hitter slashed .292/.335/.511 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI. Desmond will look to recreate that type of season in 2016 while wearing a new jersey.
Desmond, nicknamed Desi, led the major leagues with 149 defensive games at shortstop and 221 putouts at shortstop in 2010. He also turned 87 double plays in 2010, which was good for third in the league. Desmond can be dominant as a defender, but he can be quite streaky sometimes.