The Padres and Manny Machado are close to an agreement on a massive contract extension that will keep the superstar third baseman in mustard and brown for the foreseeable future.
The parties are finalizing an 11-year pact worth $350 million, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Sunday morning.
Earlier this month, Machado publicly stated his intention to exercise an opt-out clause in his contract to become a free agent after the season. Apparently, that will no longer be the case, as Machado appears to be linked to San Diego for the long term.
Once signed, the new contract will represent the fourth-largest guaranteed payout in major league history, behind only Mike Trout (Angels, 12 years, $426.5 million), Mookie Betts (Dodgers, 12 years, $365 million) and Aaron Judge (Yankees, nine years, $360 million).
Machado’s new pact, which runs through 2033, contains a full no-trade clause, but no opt-out provisions, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Machado’s previous deal, signed in February 2019, was for 10 years and $300 million. It had six years and $180 million remaining on it. However, it contained a clause that would allow him to opt out of the pact and test free agency after the five seasons. Clearly, the Padres weren’t interested in letting the slugger hit the open market, despite a wave of recent spending by the club.
Machado, 30, is a six-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. Last season, he recorded a slash line of .298/.366/.531 with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs in 150 games last season. Over the course of his 11-year major league career, he’s slashed .282/.341/.493 with 283 homers and 853 RBIs in 1,445 games.
The contract news adds to a busy weekend for Machado. In the Padres’ Cactus League opener Friday, Machado became the first batter penalized for committing a pitch clock violation. Coincidentally, the infraction came on the heels of Machado saying that players would be “freakin’ angry and pissed off” by new MLB rules, including the 20-second pitch clock.
