Manny Machado To Opt Out After 2023
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado spoke to the media on Friday, confirming that he plans to opt out of his ten-year, $300 million deal that he signed in the winter of 2019 at the end of the 2023 season.
After finishing second in the National League Most Valuable Player award last season, Machado had given the Padres a February 16 deadline to finalize an extension. Before the deadline, the Padres did offer Machado a five-year extension worth $105 million that would be added to the end of his current ten-year deal.
Still, with the deadline passing and no deal, Machado has elected to explore his options in free agency at the end of the season. The timing of this is no surprise, as the Padres are kicking off Spring Training. Often, players like to use Spring Training as an opportunity to work out deals before the season starts.
Machado makes a compelling case for an extension with a resume that includes six All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and a Platinum Glove. With the recent addition of Xander Bogaerts and the mega contract the New York Yankees gave Aaron Judge, Padres General Manager and President of Baseball Operations, AJ Preller, is going to have to work his magic to keep this team together that also includes superstars Juan Soto, Fernando Tatís Jr.
In his time with the Padres, Machado has compiled a slash line of .280/.352/.504/.855 in 2199 plate appearances. With appearing in over 150 games in the last three seasons and all 60 games in 2020, Machado has proven that he is very durable, even at age 30.
Main Image Credit
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 18: Manny Machado, #13 of the San Diego Padres, flies out during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 18, 2022, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
