Earlier this offseason, when the Padres gave Yangervis Solarte a two-year contract extension with a pair of club options, they made a statement: Solarte is the third baseman for the foreseeable future, a middle-of-the-order piece who can help anchor a very young lineup.
Unless, of course, Solarte isn't their third baseman at all.
Make no mistake, Solarte is the clear-cut favorite to man the hot corner for the Padres in 2017. But for now at least, the club is leaving its options open as the front office mulls the possibility of moving him to second base.