San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres already made the biggest splash of the MLB offseason, reportedly signing Manny Machado to a 10-year, $300 million deal, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. 

And Jon Heyman of the MLB Network even reported on Tuesday afternoon that the team might not be done there.

Padres are pulling off one surprise (once Manny’s finalized) but here’s another shocker : they aren’t ruling out Bryce Harper, too. 110M payroll (with MM) is still lower than most.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 19, 2019

Landing both Machado and Bryce Harper in the same offseason—two of baseball's biggest stars—would be a shocking development. But it appears the Padres will be stopping with Machado. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, for example, reported earlier Tuesday that the Padres were "out" on Harper.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the same on Tuesday evening:

The #Padres are ecstatic landing Manny Machado, and with $300 million committed to Machado, are bowing out of the Bryce Harper sweepstakes. The #Phillies remain the front-runner for Harper while the #SFGiants are also in the picture.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 20, 2019

It's unclear just what the market will be for Harper. The Washington Nationals reportedly offered him the exact deal Machado ended up with in October, which he turned down. Will the Nationals get back in the bidding?

The Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies have also been linked to Harper throughout the offseason, though the Phillies feel like far more likely candidates to splash the major cash it will take to bring in Harper: 

Machado signed for what #Nationals offered Harper in last week of the reg season — albeit with deferrals. I would suspect Harper is going to beat this still with belief #Phillies remain most likely destination

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 19, 2019

The White Sox figure to compete for Bryce Harper, but they weren’t willing to go $300 million for Manny Machado. If that remains the case, that’s good for #Phillies. https://t.co/tnzOtgy95s

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) February 19, 2019

Of course, the Phillies may not be Harper's dream destination, either:

https://twitter.com/martinonyc/status/1097939693403062282

The San Francisco Giants have also been rumored to have Harper interest, though they reportedly only want to do a shorter-term deal, which could be a dealbreaker.

And, of course, there's always the chance that a mystery team will swoop in at the last minute to sign Harper. At this stage that feels more like something Harper's agent, Scott Boras, would like teams to believe to drive up his client's value, rather than an actual possibility. 

So there was a scenario in which the Padres could be a contender in the Harper sweepstakes if they were willing to break the bank a second time. But that would mean tying up $600 million in contracts to two players for the next decade.

And it appears the Padres aren't interested in going down that road.

Manny Machado reportedly signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. And for New York Yankees fans who are wondering if the organization was in the running: It wasn't.

James Wagner of the New York Times reported that the Yankees never even made an offer:

Yankees never made a formal offer to Manny Machado, per a source, although they hosted him at Yankee Stadium. Machado wanted to top Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year/$325M deal, and although his reported amount is a free-agent record, Yankees didn’t want to offer something that large.

— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) February 19, 2019

Jack Curry of YES also reported that the Yankees were never fully engaged with Machado:

While the Yankees met with Machado in December, they hardly engaged with him after that. From the first internal conversations the Yankees had about the possibility of adding Machado, there were strong voices in the room advocating against it.

— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) February 19, 2019

It makes sense. New York already has one of baseball's best lineups, highlighted by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. And the Yankees have a huge contract on the books, with Stanton holding another 10 seasons on his 13-year, $325 million pact (though that includes a player opt-out after 2020 and a club option in 2028).

And since Judge will be arbitration eligible after this season, his contract numbers will rise significantly as well. Going after Machado would have been basically acquiescing to luxury-tax status for the next decade. 

Granted, Machado is worth the big bucks. The 26-year-old has hit 30 or more homers in four straight seasons, is a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glover who can play both shortstop and third base. He's a five-tool superstar and a legitimate difference-maker, and he would have made the Yankees the prohibitive World Series favorites this year and into the near future.

But the Yankees are still a legitimate contender without him. Yankees fans may be disappointed to hear the team wasn't interested in Machado at the type of money he wanted, but their logic is sound.

For a team coming off a 66-96 record, the San Diego Padres have to be feeling good about their 2019 outlook after they reportedly agreed to a deal with Manny Machado on Tuesday.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Padres signed the four-time All-Star. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand added Machado will receive $300 million over 10 years. 

The Padres tried to expedite their rebuild last offseason by signing Eric Hosmer to play first base. It didn't work out how they hoped, though the long-term outlook for this franchise looks to be high with Machado on board. 

                       

Padres Projected Starting Lineup

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Manny Machado, SS

3. Eric Hosmer, 1B

4. Wil Myers, LF

5. Hunter Renfroe, RF

6. Manuel Margot, CF

7. Francisco Mejia, C

8. Ty France, 3B

9. TBD (Starting Pitcher)

          

Even though there are glaring holes in that lineup, it's important to remember the Padres will look very different as 2019 moves along. 

Per ESPN.com's Keith Law, San Diego has MLB's No. 1 farm system thanks to a combination of superstars at the top and high-end depth:

"The Padres are poised to sit at or near the top of these rankings for quite some time, even though they'll likely lose at least three top-100 prospects to graduations this year (Fernando Tatis Jr., Chris Paddack, Luis Urias and maybe Logan Allen), with the 2016 international class still just barely getting to full-season ball, another solid draft class last year and the sixth overall pick this year."

Law mentioned four players who could be expected to arrive in San Diego this season. Manager Andy Green will have to determine whether to use Tatis or Machado at shortstop, but it's a good problem to have. 

MLB.com has Tatis ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect. The 20-year-old hit .286/.355/.507 in 88 games at Double-A last season. 

Machado's arrival gives the Padres a franchise cornerstone to start this season and a bridge to help them compete in the National League West while they wait for those young players to get accustomed to the big leagues. 

Even though they finished 30 games under .500 last year, the Padres have made themselves into one of the most interesting teams in Major League Baseball.

The Manny Machado sweepstakes are finally over as the team made the star's 10-year contract official Thursday.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported official details on the contract:

Manny Machado: 30M each year, 10 years. 1st year 20M signing bonus, $10M salary. (signing bonuses are not subject to that high California tax). 6 team no-trade list. #padres

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 22, 2019

Heyman also noted Machado has agreed to play third base, which keeps shortstop open for Padres top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr..

ESPN.com's Jeff Passan first reported Feb. 19 that San Diego and Machado agreed to "the biggest free-agent contract in the history of American sports."

Machado's deal reportedly features an opt-out provision after the fifth year, per Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown.

Chicago White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams said he believed his club was in the driver's seat for Machado following an extensive bidding war. 

"I'm wearing my shades so you can't see the shock in my eyes," Williams told reporters Tuesday, according to The Athletic's James Fegan. 

However, Williams noted the White Sox didn't offer compensation that touched the historic $300 million price tag. 

"That level wasn't feasible to us because we still have to project putting together a total winning roster and keeping the young players that will ultimately earn into greater dollars themselves," he added, per MLB.com's Scott Merkin. 

Citing sources, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported the White Sox offered Machado $250 million over eight years, but the deal could have soared "well north" of $300 million with incentives and vesting options. 

Machado arrived in L.A. prior to the 2018 trade deadline after spending the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. During his stay in Southern California, Machado took over for the injured Corey Seager at shortstop and hit .273/.338/.487 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI. 

By season's end, the 26-year-old piled up 37 homers and 107 RBI while hitting a career-high .297.  

Despite the big numbers, Machado was never considered likely to make Los Angeles his long-term home. The Dodgers already had Seager in the fold on an entry-level contract, and their payroll was the third-highest among all clubs last season at $199.6 million. 

Add a nine-figure salary to the ledger, and that number would have skyrocketed. 

As a result, the four-time All-Star pursued new opportunities and landed with the Padres on a deal that will make him a crucial component of their pennant chase in the coming years. 

And based on Machado's track record, he should have a positive effect upon arrival. 

Machado ranks 13th among all players with 168 home runs since 2013, and his 203 doubles are good for ninth over that stretch. 

Additionally, the two-time Gold Glove winner has proved to be one of Major League Baseball's rangiest hot corner patrolmen. Although he primarily played shortstop with the Dodgers, Machado has always been best suited as a third baseman because of his quick reflexes and huge arm. 

To that point, Machado ranks second among all third basemen with 77 defensive runs saved and is tops in ultimate zone rating with a mark of 45.7 since 2013.  

The Padres still have plenty of work to do, of course, but bagging Machado over other big-market competitors like the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies is a major coup for the up-and-coming NL West club. 

What's more, the Padres may soon have one of the most talented infields in all of baseball with Fernando Tatis Jr., currently listed as MLB.com's No. 2-ranked prospect, due for his major league debut in the near future.  

Machado will have to be patient as the Padres work their way into the pennant race over the next few years, but the payoff could be substantial if San Diego's rebuild goes according to plan. 

     

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs.com.

Although Manny Machado is still deciding on his next location, the San Diego Padres have reportedly made a significant offer to the free-agent shortstop.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, rival general managers have been told the Padres offered Machado an eight-year deal worth anywhere from $240 million to $280 million. Nightengale also noted some of the money from his contract could also be deferred.

As Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported, the 26-year-old is expected to sign with whichever team offers him the best deal.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Padres general manager A.J. Preller flew to Miami to meet with Machado last week, although he also said the player isn't considered close to making a decision.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox are considered two of the top contenders to land the four-time All-Star.

Considering the start of spring training is just a couple of weeks away, you would think he would want to be on a team. However, he has remained patient all offseason without rushing to a deal.

With a reported deal worth $30-35 million per year already on the table, it could allow him to get even more from opposing teams.

Fellow superstar free-agent Bryce Harper is also likely to get more than $30 million per year, although he is expected to get a 10-year deal, per Nightengale.

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller flew to Miami within the last week to meet with free-agent third baseman Manny Machado, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Acee notes that the prized free agent is the team's preferred option to fill its hole at the hot corner. Acee added that Preller was among the Padres contingent that previously flew to Las Vegas to meet with free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported last week that both Machado and Harper are seeking $300 million contracts. That's a big ask, but Machado would certainly provide a much-needed boost at third for San Diego.

Machado hit .297/.367/.538 with 37 home runs, 35 doubles, three triples and 107 RBI in 162 games between the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018.

After having spent the first six-plus years of his career in the American League, he showed little trouble in adjusting to National League pitching following a midseason trade to L.A. last season. He hit .273/.338/.487 with 13 home runs, 14 doubles and 42 RBI in 66 games for the Dodgers.

Playing the vast majority of his career in Baltimore has kept him from playing in San Diego on a regular basis. Machado has made just four appearances at Petco Park in his career thus far, going 8-for-18 (.444 average). He does, however, have just one extra-base hit at the spacious stadium, a double.

San Diego opens camp with Ty France (zero MLB appearances), Ian Kinsler (one career appearance at third) and Greg Garcia (.248 career average) among the top candidates for the hot corner. 

And while the Padres have an obvious need at third, it's not clear what Machado's level of interest in returning to the position he won a pair of Gold Gloves at is. Machado moved to shortstop for the 2018 season, and when a position change came up prior to the trade deadline, he made it clear he wanted to remain in the middle of the infield.

"I'm a shortstop," Machado said in July 2018, per The Athletic's Marc Carig. "I play shortstop."

San Diego currently has top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. nearing the big leagues, so the Padres would likely want Machado to return to third. However, shortstop could be on the table, as MLB.com notes that the 6'3", 185-pound Tatis may need to move to third base at some point.

According to Acee, Machado is not believed to be close to nearing a decision. The Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams in the mix.

The San Diego Padres, who recently joined the race for free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper, are in on free-agent left-hander Gio Gonzalez, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports and MLB Network.

Morosi explained the impact Gonzalez would have in a Padres uniform: "Gonzalez, 33, would add experience to a Padres rotation that may otherwise consist entirely of starting pitchers who are 28 and younger. Gonzalez has pitched effectively at Petco Park, with a .592 opponents' OPS in five starts. And Gonzalez is represented by Scott Boras, the same agent as Harper."

The left-hander did not enjoy a productive 2018, as he went 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA for the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers. After leading the National League with 79 walks in 2017, Gonzalez had one more in 2018 despite pitching 30 fewer innings. Per FanGraphs, Gonzalez also had the highest xFIP and second-lowest strikeout rate of his career.

But a change of scenery could do some good for Gonzalez, who finished sixth in the 2017 National League Cy Young race thanks largely because of a 2.96 ERA. As Morosi noted, Gonzalez has found success in Petco Park, which has played as a neutral to pitcher-friendly park over the years. He also could be the ace (or No. 2 pitcher) on a staff where no potential starter had a sub-four ERA last season.

The Padres open their season at home against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, March 28.

The latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Bryce Harper's free agency will include a meeting with the San Diego Padres. 

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Harper will meet with Padres officials on either Thursday or Friday in Las Vegas. 

Per Fancred Sports' Jon Heyman, Harper's meeting with the Padres will happen on Friday. The Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams known to be interested in the 2015 National League MVP. 

Rosenthal added Harper and/or his agent, Scott Boras, have had meetings with "a number of" teams recently, but there is no indication any deal is close. 

The Padres are emerging as a late player in the free-agent sweepstakes for Harper and Manny Machado. 

Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego is pursuing Machado. MLB.com's Jon Morosi reported Wednesday that the Padres have yet to meet with the four-time All-Star. 

One factor that could work in San Diego's favor is money to spend. The team currently has MLB's sixth-lowest payroll ($74.2 million). The team also has a wealth of talent in the minors, including 10 players in MLB.com's top 100 prospects list for 2019.

Harper's free agency has been an ongoing topic throughout this offseason. The 26-year-old made his sixth career All-Star appearance in 2018 after hitting .249/.393/.496 with 34 homers and 100 RBI for the Nationals. 

The San Diego Padres "are more of a factor than" the Los Angeles Dodgers for Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Later, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported talks are in "advanced stages" and that the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves are also "still in the mix."

The 27-year-old backstop had 21 home runs and 74 RBI while slashing .277/.340/.484 in 125 games last season. A 2018 All-Star, Realmuto isn't eligible to become an unrestricted free agent until 2021, per Spotrac.

However, the Marlins are in the middle of a massive rebuilding project that started last year when the team dealt players from a core that included 2017 National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton and 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich.

Realmuto could be the next name on the move. He's seemingly been connected with the entire league, as noted by this Rotoworld rundown of Realmuto 2018 and 2019 news and rumors. That likely makes the question "when" and not "if" he's dealt, although the answer is unclear given the sparse offseason movement around the league.

Still, Realmuto would be a good fit on the Padres. San Diego needs hitting desperately after finishing 12th in the National League in home runs and 13th in batting average last season. The Padres also have a stacked farm system with numerous high-potential pitchers (e.g. southpaw MacKenzie Gore, who ranks 13th on the MLB Pipeline of the top 100 prospects in the bigs). Realmuto could be a steady veteran presence for those players as they acclimate into the league.

Furthermore, San Diego looks like it's ready to spend a lot of money, according to a report from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. In sum, refinanced debt has cleared up room for the Padres to be more aggressive on the trade and free-agent markets.

L.A. needs a replacement for Yasmani Grandal, who signed a one-year deal with the Brewers. And Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report ranked its farm system eighth, so there's potential for the Dodgers to put together an attractive offer for Realmuto.

But the Padres' overloaded farm system (which Reuter ranked No. 1) puts them in a better position to deal with the rebuilding Marlins, who are looking to build from the ground up.

Although they have recently been linked to prized free agent Manny Machado, the San Diego Padres continue to explore all of their options at the hot corner.

Jon Heyman of Fancred reported Tuesday that San Diego is also interested in Mike Moustakas. Heyman notes that Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer, who was teammates with Moustakas in Kansas City from 2011 to 2017, highly recommended the free agent to his organization.

The second overall pick in 2007, Moustakas spent the first decade-plus of his career with the Royals organization. He played seven-plus seasons in a Kansas City uniform after debuting in 2011, earning two All-Star selections in the process.

Moustakas was one of many free agents who had a tough time finding a home last offseason. After turning down Kansas City's qualifying offer (one year, $17.4 million), he had to settle for a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Royals, a contract that included a $15 million mutual option for 2019.

The 30-year-old declined his part of the mutual option in October to become a free agent.

Moustakas is coming off a season in which he hit .251/.315/.459 with 28 home runs, 33 doubles and 95 RBI while splitting time between the Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers. He hit .200 with zero home runs, two doubles and three RBI in 10 postseason games for Milwaukee.

While his Brewers were ultimately defeated by Machado's Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series last year, Moustakas, along with Hosmer, was a member of Kansas City's 2015 World Series championship squad.

The Athletic's Dennis Lin reported Saturday that the Padres were looking to meet with Machado as the free-agent remains unsigned. While the four-time All-Star provides value both at the plate and in the field (two-time Gold Glover at third), Machado is expected to become one of the highest-paid players in MLB history—whether it be by overall contract value or by average annual value.

If the Padres aren't willing to meet Machado's asking price, Moustakas would provide an impact bat at a lesser price.