PEORIA, Ariz. -- Late in the 2016 season, Luis Sardinas looked like the Padres' shortstop of the future. He came over from Seattle in an Aug. 14 trade, and after an Aug. 22 callup, he hit .287 (31-for-108) and started 33 of San Diego's remaining 38 games, including 32 at shortstop.
On Friday, manager Andy Green had a conversation with Sardinas to let the 23-year-old know that he would "start bouncing all over the field" for the remainder of Spring Training. The message was that Sardinas is out of the shortstop competition, with Erick Aybar emerging as the likely Opening Day starter.