Jedd Gyorko signed a six-year, $35 million contract with the Padres last April after just one full season in the majors. Since then he’s hit .210 in 157 games and today the Padres demoted the 26-year-old second baseman to Triple-A.
Gyorko had a rough, injury filled 2014 season and he’s been even less productive this year, hitting .210 with two homers and a .593 OPS in 46 games.
Of late manager Bud Black has turned to Cory Spangenberg as the primary second baseman, leaving Gyorko without much of a role. He totaled just six plate appearances this month, all of them coming off the bench, and hasn’t started back-to-back games since May 19 and 20. Which is odd considering he hit .279 with a .796 OPS in May, showing signs of life.
Gyorko remains part of the Padres’ plans by virtue of being owed $4 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017, $9 million in 2018, and $13 million in 2019. And right now he looks like a prime example of how not all early long-term extensions for promising young players end up favoring the team.