![]() It’s about what Machado does to earn that money.Īt some point, the Padres will need to balance out the big-money, long-term veterans by stirring in homegrown and affordable options. It’s not about the money, really, at least at this point. Too much risk? The forward-thinking Seidler repeatedly says that doing nothing constitutes risk of its own. But in this wacky world of the free-wheeling Padres, would you bet against it? What about trying to chase down Shohei Ohtani a season from now, a $600 million-or-so pitching and hitting whale in waiting? If the franchise fails to break through while filling his bank account, that’s a different conversation.ĭoes the Machado deal handcuff the Padres from trying to extend Juan Soto? Maybe. If the Padres storm to a World Series or two, the later years matter less and the investment will have been worth it. The key is how much production and winning can the Padres squeeze out of the star along the way. There will be a lot more miles on his tires than most when he creeps into his late-30s. An in-the-moment positive about Machado potentially creates a different concern down the road. With thorny money issues pushed into the rear-view mirror, it’s all about lacing up and playing.ĭoes the extension work long-term? That’s the biggest question, even though that answer remains far from a simple yes or no. He’s playing as well as or better than any point in his career. Hopefully, we’ll be together for a long time.”ĭoes the Machado extension work in the medium term? Barring injury, yes. Not the ‘Bash Brothers,’ but we’ll probably find a name. … We probably need to get some (nick)name together. “Those are the best of the best in the game. Told the big math on the Machado deal, Bogaerts grinned and shook his head as the numbers sunk in. “You can see, they’re pushing all the chips in.” To come in here and be a part of something that could be special, a city that has never won yet. “That’s what they want, man,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said of ownership, which committed to him for 11 seasons as well. It’s nearly impossible to place a value on what those ripples mean in the moment and what they’ll mean in the seasons to follow. Machado started it all and, now, has doubled down. Ditto that for hometown pitching gem Joe Musgrove and his $100 million contract. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz could have gotten more than the $1 million deal he signed for this winter. The Padres’ commitment to swing for the fences has grown into something bigger, a tractor beam pulling in bats and arms from all directions. The Machado extension, with all the cash-soaked things that came before it, amplifies the message even more. ![]() It fires another lightning bolt through the clubhouse - stunningly, with no end in sight - that signals Chairman and principal owner Peter Seidler intends to win, no matter how many trips to the ATM machine are needed. The combination of offensive production, elite defense and actions-speak-louder leadership is difficult to match.Įrasing speculation about Machado’s future eliminates the numbing hum of an everyday distraction. ![]() You can ink him into the lineup for 150-plus-games, most seasons. Locking down the 30-year-old for the rest of his career does all kinds of crucial things for the Padres in the short term.įirst of all, it keeps one of the best players in baseball from hunting a real-estate agent. The Machado deal lives somewhere in between. It’s all or nothing, black or white, good or bad, fearless genius or reckless nonsense. Most tend to view everything through one lens. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |