Why giving Manny Machado huge deal made sense for San Diego Padres

We are in a new era of Major League Baseball as it seems every newly signed big-money contract outdoes the other in terms of dollars and years committed. And the player who sits atop the food chain changes daily. Too often, the on-field production received does not equate the contract’s dollar amount. However, the 10-year, $300 million deal between the San Diego Padres and Manny Machado made sense for both sides.

It is rare to see a 26-year-old MVP candidate hit the free agent market in the prime of their baseball career. But Machado did and the Padres took advantage of the opportunity. They out-hustled the big-money market teams for his services and the first four seasons of the deal have been a worthy investment.

Manny Machado showing why San Diego Padres opened the vaults

Players of his ilk seem to be a safe bet to bring in on a big-money free agent deal. Usually, production at the plate and in the field sways everyone’s opinion of their salary. However, sustaining an assortment of injuries will curtail a player’s impact on his new team. The fans and press will voice their disappointment with the player’s absence from the lineup. Questions will arise if making such a large financial commitment (years and $$$) to one player was the right move.

Too many teams fail to learn that so much can go wrong with signing high-profile free agents. And the majority of them have little recourse to make things right. They cannot afford to pay a star player with dwindling skills $300+ million to be a full-time designated hitter.

The exact opposite has occurred for the Friars and Machado. The 30-year-old All-Star has been more impactful to his team than other recent big-name free-agent signees. You could make an argument that a rise in production could move him into the Hall-of-Fame conversation by the end of the deal.

No question that Machado is an unstoppable force at the plate. In four seasons with the Padres, he has a .280 BA, 317 runs scored, 108 HRs and 340 RBIs in 515 games. Machado is a clutch hitter with runners in scoring position as he posted a .504 slugging percentage and 136 OPS during his time in San Diego.

And no one can deny that Machado is one of the top defensive third-basemen in the majors today. Oh, you will get a good argument from those who believe fellow National League All-Star, Nolan Arenado, is a better all-around player at third. However, Machado’s range and arm strength are tough to match.

In 11 seasons at the hot corner, Machado has a career .968 fielding percentage. Still, Arenado is a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner. It is safe to say that these two stars will be battling for All-Star Game starting honors into the next decade.

Despite all of his offensive prowess, Machado’s greatest value has been his leadership skills inside the Padres locker room. He has mentored young players like Ha-Seong Kim and Jake Cronenworth, who have developed into solid major-league performers.

Even baseball’s richest franchises have their limits financially. But the Padres did not back themselves into a corner during the chase to sign Machado.

From a talent standpoint, Padres general manager A.J. Preller wanted to acquire a proven run-producer to be the focal point of the batting order. With Machado’s availability on the open market, it was his opportunity to reach for the stars and sign a big bat.

The dreams of the Friar Faithful have come true as the San Diego Padres have secured a playoff berth in two of the last three seasons. They imagined a future Hall-of-Famer would dominate and set the tone for the team. The acquisition of Machado has given the franchise credibility within the baseball community.

And there is one more dream that needs to come true: A World Series title.