The San Diego Padres agreed to a US$350 million contract for their third baseman, Manny Machado. US sports media say the Padres are betting on Machado, the person more than the baseball player, to lead the team. The Padres are expectant Juan Soto and Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr (set to return in April 2023) will win a pennant for the team in 2023. Tatis had signed for 14 years, $340 million (2021-2034), but then ran into personal problems that have kept him off the playing ground.
The Machado contract is the most lucrative signed so far by a Dominican player in Major League Baseball history. His contract is also the fifth biggest among MLB players behind Mike Trout, Angels: $426.5M; Mookie Betts, Dodgers: $365M and Aaron Judge, Yankees: $360M.
Machado is 30 years old. The Padres agreed to a tenure extension, 11 years and US$350 million. The deal starts in 2023. The contract would end in 2033 when Machado would turn 41.
Machado is ranked fifth on the recently released MLB Network of the 100 best baseball players in the Majors, leading all third basemen listed.
Machado has been selected to six all-star games and has won two Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger.
In 11 seasons in MLB, Machado has accumulated a batting average of .282, with 283 home runs, 853 RBIs, 839 runs scored, 1,597 hits, 312 doubles, 18 triples, 85 stolen bases, 513 walks, 1,069 strikeouts, 2,794 bases reached, OBP .341, SLG .493, OPS .833.
Machado made the finals for the National League Most Valuable Player in 2020 and 2022.
Padres team members are key to the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. Machado joins Nelson Cruz and Juan Soto on the Dominican WBC roster.
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San Diego Union Tribune
1 March 2023