Nothing has gone according to plan for Fernando Tatis Jr. this year. Having missed the first half of the 2022 MLB season due to a fractured wrist, his return date was just around the corner when he received another blow.
Tatis Jr was given an 80-game suspension from MLB after testing positive for Clostebol, violating the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program. That means he’s not playing at all this year, and he will also miss games in 2023.
Before this chaotic year, the Padres had given Tatis Jr. a 14 year, fully guaranteed $340 million contract. In an interview with USA TODAY Sports, team chairman Peter Seidler said he had no regrets in striking that deal.
Padres owner doesn’t regret giving Fernando Tatis Jr. $340m deal
“It was a significant body blow for him, for the organization, and for the fans,’’ Seidler said. “But yelling, screaming, breaking glasses, that wasn’t going to help anything. In my experience, this can make you stronger and better. The wrong way to look at it is to be angry at a 23-year-old young man. We’ve had him since he was 17. He has grown up in front of our eyes. I know he’s a good guy with a good heart and he cares.
“No regrets. No. No. No. Fernando knows I have his back. There’s no way you go into a 14-year relationship and think it’s going to be a smooth ride for pure joy and happiness. Your eyes are wide open. There’s going to be a mistake or hiccup. I knew that going in. It’s a similar feeling in any long-term relationship. You’re going to have your speed bumps. My expectation is that we got rid of a lot of the speed bumps here.’’
