The San Diego Padres are addressing their shortstop depth with the signing of veteran Nick Ahmed to a minor league contract. The 34-year-old infielder finds a new home after spending the better part of this season bouncing around the NL West, having already played for both the Giants and Dodgers before landing with the Padres.
Ahmed, a two-time Gold Glove winner known for his exceptional defense, became a free agent just over a week ago after the Dodgers designated him for assignment. Rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A, Ahmed opted for free agency and will now provide depth for a Padres team dealing with a key injury to starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.
Kim, who has been on the injured list since August 19 with shoulder inflammation, remains sidelined and hasn’t yet been cleared to make throws across the diamond. While Kim is progressing and participating in other baseball activities at the Padres’ spring training facility, his ability to throw effectively remains a question mark. In the meantime, the Padres have been relying on Mason McCoy and Tyler Wade to fill in at shortstop, but Ahmed’s signing gives the team more options at the position.
Though Ahmed’s bat has been a concern in recent years—he’s hit just .232/.271/.300 over 221 plate appearances this season—his defensive prowess remains a valuable asset. For a Padres squad still pushing for a playoff spot, shoring up the infield defense with a player of Ahmed’s caliber could help steady things while Kim continues his recovery.
The timing of Ahmed’s signing also raises eyebrows. By signing before September 1, Ahmed remains eligible for the Padres’ postseason roster should the team make a late push into October. It’s a savvy move by San Diego as they prepare for a possible postseason run and seek to add experience and defense to their infield mix.
Ahmed’s signing represents his latest stop on a whirlwind journey through the NL West, one that has seen him play for three different teams this season after spending his first 10 years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Now, in the midst of his 11th season, Ahmed finds himself in a Padres uniform with an opportunity to contribute down the stretch and potentially in the playoffs.
