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Free Agent Manny Machado Agrees to Historic Deal With Padres


Manny Machado, one of the top free agents available on the Major League Baseball market, has agreed on the terms of a deal with the San Diego Padres, according to ESPN and The Associated Press.

The contract is believed to be for 10 years and $300 million.

Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler told Dennis Lin of The Athletic Tuesday morning, “We do not have a deal, we are continuing discussions.”

This is believed to be mostly semantics as they negotiate the final details of a contract that will likely be a game-changer for the Friars franchise.

Machado, a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner at third base, made $16 million between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles last season.

The 26-year-old slugger posted a career-high .905 OPS in 2018, finishing the season with a .297/.367/.538 slash line, 37 home runs, 107 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. In 66 regular-season games with the Dodgers, Machado hit .273 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs.

Machado spent most of this past season at shortstop, his preferred position, but is expected to play 3rd base for the Padres. San Diego has hot shot shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Junior in the pipeline. Tatis is expected to be the Padres shortstop of the future and could make his big league debut this season.

Machado’s deal is the biggest free agent contract in baseball history, overtaking the 10-year, $275 million deal that Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees after the 2007 season.

Along with Bryce Harper, Machado was one of the most coveted free agents this off-season. 

Machado is an 8-year MLB veteran, who played most of his first seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

Padres legend Randy Jones visited NBC 7 Tuesday and offered his thoughts on the Machado development and what it could mean for the Friars.

“I’m just really, really excited about the whole concept,” Jones told NBC 7. “I just know that Padres ownership, they’re trying to create a winner here in San Diego. I think now, they kind of realize, it is real. These guys are serious; they want to create a winner here.”

“They think that key component – we needed an infielder – and you can’t get better than Manny Machado,” Jones added. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to see the left side of the infield now. I just can only imagine the buzz in Spring Training right now with the other players. This really sends a signal to Major League Baseball and other players that they’re serious, and we’re going to win.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images, File
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Source: NBC San Diego

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