Padres and Nick Hundley Nearing Extension

Via Twitter yesterday, Corey Brock of Padres.com and Follow the Padres, said, “could be close.”  This was in reference to a contract extension for Nick Hundley.  MLB Trade Rumors covered the story after Brock’s tweet and used Kurt Suzuki of the Mariners, Chris Iannetta of the Angels, and Yadier Molina of the Cardinals as comparisons.

Molina is clearly on another level, and he got the extension to prove it.  He earned a four-year, $15.5 million extension.  Iannetta figures to be a much better comp to Hundley.  His extension with the Angels was for three years, $8.3 million.  According to MLBTR, Hundley’s three years of arbitration eligibility figure to be worth $8-10 million.

Hundley hit .288/.347/.477 last season.  It was his best year by far.  In his four years with the Padres,

Hundley’s career line is .255/.314/.420.  However, as I covered here, Hundley seems to have figured out a way to adjust to Petco Park’s play.  He seems to have tailored his game to it.

The Padres have Yasmani Grandal waiting for his shot, and they have John Baker as Hundley’s back-up this season.  But Hundley has been one of the faces for the Padres the last four years, and while he has not been a breakout star, the contract extension is the right move.  We’ll keep you posted as news breaks.