San Diego Padres Sign Manny Machado

Contract Details

$300 million over 10 years (2019-2029) with an opt-out option after 5th year (2023).

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The San Diego Padres have always been the laughing stock of the NL West, but they have signed the largest free agent contract in the history of American Sports, for now (*cough* Harper *cough*).

Manny Machado, the 26 year old third baseman, is coming off his best year yet. In 2019, he hit a career high 37 homeruns while knocking in a career high 107 RBI's. He slashed a career high .297/.367/.538 on his way to finishing the year with a career high 141 wRC+ (weighted runs created), .377 wOBA (weighted on base average) , and 35.8 wRAA (weighted runs above average).

The Padres are getting a top 10 baseball player who's just hitting his prime.

This acquisition along with the top farm system in all of baseball (10 prospects in the MLB top 100 list) has opened the padres' playoff window a couple of years earlier than expected.

At the beginning of the offseason, no one would have bet on the Padres landing the superstar. Many believed one of the Yankees, Phillies, or White Sox would sign him. Although Manny Machado grew up cheering for the Yankees, the team didn't show any interest in completing the Cinderella story. The bombers went in a cheaper direction, signing DJ Lemahieu and Troy Tulowitzki to secure their middle infield. The Phillies began the offseason very bold, declaring that they plan on acquiring Manny Machado and Bryce Harper this offseason with their eyes set on signing Mike Trout, a Philly native, in a couple years. However, as the offseason continued, they became more focused on solely reeling in Bryce Harper, slowly falling out of the Machado sweepstakes. The White Sox's negotiations lasted the entirety of the offseason, constantly going back and forth with Machado, trying to settle on a contract that suited both sides. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Sox latest offer was 8 year, $250 million deal with incentives reaching $350 million. Although the offer consisted of a higher AAV (average annual value) than the Padres' offer, Machado and his team wanted the $300 million guaranteed and stood by it. The south side even went as far as signing a couple of players who have close relations with Machado, but their efforts were in vain.

Outlook

With Francisco Mejia at catcher, Eric Hosmer at first, Luis Urias at second, Fernando Tatis Jr at short, the all star third basemen will now be part of what could become the best infield in the Major Leagues in the very near future. Mix in a promising outfield of Wil Myers, Franmil Reyes, Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe and Franchy Cordero, the Padres have a solid offensive unit that's all under team control for at least the next 4 years at a modest payroll of just $105 million:

1. Urias, 2B

2. Tatis, SS

3. Hosmer, 1B

4. Machado, 3B

5. Myers, LF

6. Renfroe/Reyes RF

7. Margot/Cordero CF

8. Hedges/Mejia C

While the starting pitching is not Major League mature yet, the sky is the limit for their future rotation which could consist of Joey Lucchesi, Dinelson Lamet, MacKenzie Gore (MLB #15 prospect), , Chris Paddack (MLB #34 prospect) , Luis Patino, (MLB #48 prospect), Adrian Morejon (MLB #49 prospect), and Logan Allen (MLB #74 prospect), wow.

This high powered offense supported with a strong bullpen (top 6 ERA wise in 2018) is just a couple of starting pitching breakouts (or signings?) away from serious playoff contention in 2019 and beyond.

Watch out Dodgers, the Padres are coming for the throne.