When you see the contract signed between Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres (11 years old, $350 million), it’s hard to believe in a bargain.
The lucrative agreement has enough to irritate people who find that the salaries are far too high for players who hit a ball. See the hype here.
Obviously, they are selling dreams, but that is another debate.
By signing for an average of $31.8 million a year, Machado is saving the Padres money, mostly in the short term.
“Winning the championship is our priority. Last season is over. A year from now, the Baseball Gods will smile on the Padres and we’ll have a parade,” said owner Peter Seidler.
Thus, for the first three years, Machado accepts less money to allow the owner of the Californian team to spend more to get reinforcements, if necessary.
Note that the Padres’ payroll is already at $273 million.
The Padres have come a long way since Machado arrived. In 2019, they finished the season 72-90 and last year they were three games away from participating in the World Series.
