San Diego Padres sign Manny Machado to 10-year, $300 million contract, largest in MLB history
Many of us remember Manny Machado’s first few years in the Bigs playing for the Baltimore Orioles from 2012 – 2018. Machado became a star infielder and slugger during his first season with the O’s and fans would chant his name when he came to bat – reminiscent of the chant delivered whenever Eddie Murray came to bat in an earlier generation of Baltimore sluggers.  In his second MLB season, he earned a spot playing on the American League All-Star team. We can also remember in years two and three of his contract when Machado was complaining about only making his contractual minimum annual salary of $50,000 – even as his star was rising on the field.
Fast forward to 2019 and in a jaw-dropping free trade deal, the San Diego Padres have signed the 26-year-old Machado to a 10-year, $300 million contract – which will see the infielder through the 2028 season. Machado’s deal with the Padres is the largest for a free agent in Major League history and includes an opt-out clause after the 2023 season.
In 162 games between the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Machado batted .297 (188-for-632) with a 6.2 WAR (FanGraphs) .367 OBP, .538 SLG, .905 OPS, 35 doubles, three triples, 37 home runs, 107 RBI (career high), 70 walks, 14 stolen bases and 84 runs scored. The 26-year-old tied for the most games played in MLB and finished T-3rd in hits, 4th in total bases (340), T-6th in multi-hit games (54), T-7thin game-winning RBI (14), T-8th in RBI, 9th in WAR, T-9th in HR, and 11th in SLG and OPS. His splits between right and left-handed pitchers were nearly identical, as he posted a .298/.358/.539 slash line against righties and a .297/.386/.535 line versus southpaws. During the 2018 postseason, Machado homered in three of his first five games and reached base safely in 13 of 16 games overall.
“Manny Machado is a generational talent, and we’re ecstatic that he’s chosen to spend his prime years in a San Diego Padres uniform,” Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler and General Partner Peter Seidler said in a joint statement today. “This momentous agreement speaks volumes to the direction of our organization, as well as our commitment to bringing a World Series Championship to the Friar Faithful and the City of San Diego.”
A four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, Machado has posted a .282 average (1050-for-3720) with a .822 OPS, 211 doubles, 12 triples, 175 home runs, 513 RBI, 296 walks and 522 runs scored in 926 career games. Originally selected by the Orioles in the first round (third overall) of the 2010 First-Year Player draft out of Brito Miami Private High School (Fl.), Machado has finished in the Top 10 of AL MVP voting five times and Top 5 four times.
Since his first full Major League season in 2013, he is tied with Joey Votto for sixth place among all position players in WAR (29.0), trailing only Mike Trout (54.0), Josh Donaldson (35.6), Paul Goldschmidt (32.9), Mookie Betts (30.5) and Jose Altuve (29.4).
Machado will wear No. 13 for the Padres.
(Source: MLB)
~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
