You have clearly seen the outrageous prices of athletes this winter. The guys sign long contracts that take them into their 40s, which is pretty special.
Next year’s free agents have to look at this thinking their turn is coming. I am thinking in particular of Rafael Devers.
But of the lot, we must also think of Manny Machado.
Machado is a very valuable player for the Padres. He became their point guard (yes, yes) and he plays like an MVP at third base.
When you think of Machado, you think of the guy who signed a 10-year contract in San Diego, but after the 2023 season has an exit option for the last five years of the deal.
And as reported by Jon Heymanhe intends to use it.
Does he want to use it to leave San Diego? Not necessarily, no. He wants to use it to turn the last five years of his $300 million deal into a bigger deal.
It is legitimate.
When we look at the formation of the Padres, we must therefore clearly feel a need to win now, in 2023. Why?
Because even if Xander Bogaerts is here to stay, there are doubts about Fernando Tatis Jr.’s future in town, there are doubts about Juan Soto (free agent in two years… and he will no doubt test his value) and there are doubts about Machado.
There are many doubts.
In 2023, all four will be there – barring an injury – as rumors involving Tatis Jr. appear to be unfounded. But for the future, the question is therefore legitimate: does the core 4 of the club is here to stay?
Personally, I have a theory that isn’t the most popular, but still: I think there’s a chance that in 2024, Machado AND Soto won’t play together. Whether it will be one or the other in San Diego.
I sincerely wonder how many big contracts the club can afford. On top of Bogaerts’ $280m and Tatis Jr.’s $340m, can the club add another $200m for Machado… and another $500m for Soto? I do not know.
I have a feeling that if Machado plays elsewhere in 2024, Bogaerts will take third base, Tatis Jr. will find shortstop and the club will try to invest the money on Soto.
But if Machado stays? Will the owners’ pockets be deep enough?
Trading Soto in the winter before his autonomy would recover some prospect value. And that, the Padres do not have much because of all the transactions of the last years … including the one with the Nationals for Soto.
I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but the club must think about it so as not to lose big assets for nothing in the coming years. One day the Padres won’t be able to sign everyone every year and there will be choices to be made.
I hope that these choices will be made as late as possible because I like to see the Padres, a club that does not evolve in a big television market, go.
That’s why I think in 2023, the Padres want to go all the way.
