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Padres fans can no longer complain that GM A.J. Preller had forgotten to get their team a shortstop. Jon Heyman tweets that the team has signed former White Sock Alexei Ramirez for the 2016 season.
alexei ramirez, padres are in agreement on 1-year deal
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 14, 2016
Earlier in the day Ken Rosenthal tweeted that the Padres were no longer pursuing Ian Desmond, so Ramirez was the next obvious choice.
Sources: #Padres close to signing shortstop, but it is not Ian Desmond. Barring a surprise, Alexei Ramirez would appear to be their choice.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 14, 2016
The idea here is that they didn't want two shortstops after having years without even having one. So they kept the signing short so that their new prospect acquisition Javier Guerra can slide right in before the 2017 season.
alexei ramirez had good 2d half, could be bargain. with top ss prospect javier guerra, padres couldnt go long-term at ss
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 14, 2016
I'm already looking forward to the middle infield being filled with Alex(e)is if, fingers crossed, Alexi Amarista and Ramirez take the field together.