One of the biggest MLB free agent dominoes has finally fallen as Manny Machado signed with the San Diego Padres according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is for 10 years worth $300 million. This is the biggest free agent signing in the history of American sports.
The deal reportedly has an opt-out for Machado after five years.
Last season with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers, Machado hit .297 with 37 home runs and 107 RBI. He also set a career high in OPS with a .905. He helped lead the Dodgers to the World Series where they lost in five games to the Boston Red Sox.
Despite multiple suitors, Machado was in no rush to sign a contract until he was offered at least $300 million. The San Diego Padres appeared as suitors towards the end after seeing how slow the market for the superstar was becoming. The Padres are hoping Machado can help them make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Padres have one of the best farm systems in baseball and most of their top prospects are one-two years away from being MLB ready.
It was speculated that Machado wasn’t finding the offer he found to his liking due to his comments he made during the playoffs about hustle. Machado said via The Athletic, “Obviously I’m not going to change, I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base and … you know, whatever can happen. That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea, that’s not who I am.
“Should I have run on that pitch? Yeah … but I didn’t and I gotta pay the consequences for it. It does look bad. It looks terrible. I look back at the video and I’m like, ‘Woah, what was I doing?’ You know, just the emotions of the game … I’m the type of player that has stayed in the zone, I’m playing and I’m just in the zone.”
Machado will have to put that behind him now and prove to his new team that he is worth the $300 million. A good way to start is by helping them make the playoffs. Also surpassing his former team and divisional rival, the Dodgers wouldn’t hurt.
Feature Image From CBS Sports.
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