Ox 51

Musclechemistry Guru
Tim Brown,Yahoo Sports•February 19, 2019

More than three months after declaring for free agency, shortstop Manny Machado has agreed to a 10-year, $300-million contract with the San Diego Padres, sources told Yahoo Sports. Machado can opt-out of the deal after the fifth year.

A long-time Baltimore Oriole and short-term Los Angeles Dodger, Machado, 26, was, with outfielder Bryce Harper, the most attractive free agent on the market.

The Padres were a somewhat late and surprise entrant into the bidding for Machado, even as they struck for a high-profile free agent for the second consecutive February. A year ago this month, after waiting out a similarly slow market, they signed first baseman Eric Hosmer to an eight-year, $144-million deal.

Hosmer suffered through a down year, the Padres lost 96 games and it appeared they were more likely to finish their rebuild via their well-stocked farm system.

Perhaps in response to the lean market and perhaps growing impatient with their plan, the Padres — owner Ron Fowler and general manager A.J. Preller — met with Bryce Harper and Machado in past weeks, and most recently with Machado’s agent, Dan Lozano, on Monday night in a restaurant near Phoenix.

The contract drives the Padres’ payroll past $100 million for the second time in franchise history. Even with Machado, it would not appear the Padres are equipped to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies in the top-heavy NL West.

Machado could play third base for the Padres, with 21-year-old Luis Urias expected to play shortstop. One of the game’s top prospects, Urias debuted in the major leagues late last summer. After batting .296 in Triple A, he hit .208 in 12 games in the big leagues. Some regard Urias as a better second baseman than shortstop, so the Padres could play him there, allowing Machado to play his preferred shortstop. The Padres signed veteran second baseman Ian Kinsler to a two-year deal this winter, however.
 
Unless this is just one move of many more to come, I don't get why either party would do this deal. But I'm rooting for this to work out.
 
I'm a Dodgers fan and I knew there was no room there with Turner and Seager. Machado is a very young and very talented player, but so much talent has gone to the Padres only to wither away. And haven't they even tried to make the ballpark smaller and more hitter friendly?
 
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