The search for a shortstop of the San Diego Padres finally came to a conclusion Thursday with the Padres signing free agent Alexei Ramirez to a one year contract pending a physical. The signing ends a search that saw the full gamut of options from doing nothing, to advancing a prospect not ready, to paying out more money and years to Ian Desmond. I love this deal.
The Padres have used an astounding 18 shortstops since 2009, and none have had any long-term viability. Everth Cabrera performed the best during that span, until he received a 50 game suspension for drug use before he was named again in the BioGenesis scandal.