The Padres continue to be linked to Manny Machado on the rumor mill, and The Athletic’s Dennis Lin (subscription required) provides a bit of history on San Diego’s pursuit of the star infielder. It wasn’t until late January that the Padres began to “seriously contemplate” the idea of signing Machado, due to his high asking price and the team’s own hesitation about Machado’s well-documented history of borderline dirty play and a perceived lack of hustle. This led to what one source described as an “ungodly” amount of background work from the team about Machado, and given the Padres’ burgeoning interest, it appears as though their questions have been answered to their satisfaction. In fact, ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan hears from two sources that the Padres “are enamored with” Machado, and see him as the veteran centerpiece amidst the club’s upcoming influx of highly-rated minor leaguers. There has been some speculation that Machado, a Miami native, was favoring East Coast teams over West Coast teams, though Fancred’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link) hears that Machado is looking for the best deal, with geography not a factor.
Here’s more from around the NL West…
- Also from Passan’s piece, he reports that the Rockies have been discussing extensions with some of their young starters. No names are mentioned, though it’s fair to assume that names like Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Tyler Anderson, and perhaps Jon Gray or Antonio Senzatela could be on Colorado’s radar as long-term pieces. Of that group, Freeland, Marquez, and Senzatela don’t become arbitration-eligible until next winter, while Anderson and Gray each have two arb years remaining. As such, there isn’t any tremendous urgency to get an extension worked out with any of these hurlers — as Passan notes, current talks could be more about laying some groundwork for more substantive negotiations next spring. Then again, each pitcher is his own unique case, and it could be that at least one could be eager to lock in a guaranteed payday rather than risk injury, or perhaps a performance dropoff while pitching at Coors Field. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes recently profiled Freeland as an extension candidate, arguing that a five-year, deal in the range of $35MM-$37MM would seem like a fair contract for the 25-year-old southpaw, who finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2018.
- Cameron Maybin received interest from multiple teams this winter, though the veteran outfielder told Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group that he chose to sign with the Giants due to the opportunity for playing time, and because of Buster Posey’s recent tweet about the club being “an organization that wants to win.” Maybin has only reached the postseason once in his 12-year career, though the trip was a memorable one, as Maybin won a World Series ring as a member of the 2017 Astros. Of course, the Giants don’t profile as the most obvious potential contender going into the 2019, though there’s still plenty of veteran talent on hand if everyone can stay healthy.
- Carson Kelly is eager to finally get a chance at regular MLB playing time, the new Diamondbacks catcher tells The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan (subscription required). Acquired by Arizona as part of the Paul Goldschmidt blockbuster, Kelly will see much more action with the D’Backs than he did as the backup behind workhorse Yadier Molina in St. Louis. Molina’s continued longevity meant that Kelly, a former second-round draft pick and top-60 prospect in the sport, became an expendable piece. “In the big leagues, I’ve only had a chance to fail. I’ve never really had a chance to grow,” Kelly said, noting that he found himself pressing at the plate when with the Cardinals since he so rarely got a chance to play. While the Diamondbacks’ three-catcher plan means that Kelly still won’t get a full everyday-catcher workload, Buchanan writes that “Kelly figures to be Catcher 1A,” and could end up getting more at-bats if he plays well.
Grizalt
I thought Hosmer was the “veteran centerpiece amidst the club’s upcoming influx of highly-rated minor leaguers.”
TheIncident
Hosmer is the leader, Machado the centerpiece. I don’t care what they call either as long as they sign Machado.
padresfan619 2
signing Machado a real star in his prime shows San Diego has made a turning point and wants to be a contender. I hope it happens!
rizdakc99
I think Brian Giles just upvoted your comment
terror661
No! There will be more and better stars. I promise.
yankista
… show me the Love $$$
xabial
Hosmer is anti-SABRMETRIC player.
Gold in World Baseball classic, and 2015 WS Champ
He sucks at DRS and UZR (-21 Career DRS, until he had +8 DRS for the Padres, brought him down to -13)
and -26.5 career UZR)
But BEST at 1B scoops (picking up bad throws)
Lol, Hosmer is a strange player? Stats can’t explain it all
basebaIl1600
No, he’s just really overrated. Everybody says hes the best defensive 1B, Matt Olson and Brandon Belt are clearly superior.
xabial
He’s probably the best 1B, at scoops, in the game.
Anyone know where I can find this “scoop” stat?
123redsox
That’s not a stat. The sox alone debatedly have two better defenders. Hosmer isnt a bad ball player. He just isn’t GREAT. He has one of the highest ground ball rates year after year yet he is labeled a power hitter? Makes no sense
Koamalu
Fangraphs.
its_happening
Steve Pearce is better defensively than nobody.
padresfan619 2
put a Machado behind him in the lineup and watch his stats go up a decent amount. I’m calling a 4WAR year for him with Machado batting cleanup and Hoz batting 3rd
vikingbluejay67
Machado’s lack of hustle is overstated. I’d sign him over Harper.
22Leo
Machado himself said he doesn’t hustle. There is nothing overstated about it. There are only blind fans who choose to ignore it. There is also nothing “borderline” about his dirty play. It is absolutely blatant.
terror661
This really got 2 dislikes? lol. I agree man
Texassooner
Machado and San Diego will soon despise each other. This off season blew up in Machado’s face.
Texassooner
Machado should run to Philadelphia and take what they offer.
terror661
Yes!
lowtalker1
Manny would make a great third baseman for San Diego
fasbal1
In due time Carson Kelly will play himself out of playing time.
RangerRick123
what an illiterate internet troll you are…
terror661
Please don’t sign Machado SD Padres. You’re my second favorite team(because of my wife) and I really really don’t want to have to root for you. You’re a D bag.
KingSall77
Padres need starting pitchers badly though
bucketbrew35
Kyle Freeland is a pretty damn impressive pitcher putting up stats like that while calling Coors Field home.
jonesadoug
Hey Padres you can’t buy a championship you have to earn it. as a Royals fan we loved Hoz here. Now we’re just laughing at San Diego. Manny is a cancer. He will ruin all you’re so called youngsters coming up.
jdgoat
How do you know that?
smytds
He doesn’t, he’s too busy “laughing at San Diego” for their “so called youngsters.” What does THAT mean is the real question.
Grizalt
Ask Manny’s teammates if he is a cancer
Bubba 5
Hosmer was brought in to be a “ Great Clubhouse Leader who knows how to win”. Just not at home runs, RBI’s , batting average. But hey what a speech he gives.
padreforlife
This would be terrible down the road deal for Padres. I guess if they get elusive WS it’s worth it
tominco
Best wishes to Carson Kelly from a Cardinal fan. He deserves a decent chance.
Lets Go DBacks
Nice comment and I hope Kelly is able to establish himself and help us to move away from carrying 3 catchers on the 25 man roster. He’ll have plenty of opportunities for that.
RIPprosports
Rather see Machado in the AL. Save Bellinger and Freeses ankles from getting stepped on at first base.
talking baseball
Machado is a first class BUM.
Anybody that doesn’t hustle and has his attitude should have to get a real job instead of the pleasure of playing a kids game.
PADRES Don’t make a Mistake.
Cat Mando
“He’s a good teammate. He’s an even better player,”
Zach Britton
“I’ll stand by my comment — he’s the best person I know in this game,” Steve Pearce
“I know he’s a good teammate,” Delin Betances
“really great in the clubhouse, easy to talk to. He made guys feel comfortable in their environment and really cared about winning.”
Rich Hill
“You look at the whole interview, and things were taken a little out of context. Yeah, he maybe plays the game a little differently than the way I play it, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t play the game the right way. I think the magnitude of the timing, when he said the quote, escalated things and put it under the microscope.” Enrique Hernandez
BTW all of these comments were made post-post season
jd396
“Man, what an A-hole!” – Nothing players would ever say to a reporter even if they’re thinking it
fox471 Dave
That is the spirit. Don’t listen to the players. I am sure reporters are so much better informed.
Cat Mando
JD396….They also have the option of not saying anything. These are all players who know they won’t be playing with Machado again unless they are traded. They have nothing to gain.
There are players who will chose to remain nameless such as this from the Washington Post re: Harper
“Though few mention it, subtracting Harper, while it will cost 34 homers, a .899 career OPS and some amazing hair flips, would help any team improve its attention to fundamentals. When the most famous player on the team can’t go 10 days without failing to run out a groundball or overthrowing a cutoff man by 15 feet or throwing to the wrong base or being caught unprepared in the outfield or on the bases, it’s hard to demand total alertness from the other 24.”
‘“Write it,” one prominent Nats vet said.”
Grizalt
As Cat said, there are a few incidents of players calling out other players, saying they aren’t good people (Puig and Harper come to mind). And if they do think Manny is an a-hole, they could just say nothing. No one is forcing them to lie and say that they think he’s a great person.
its_happening
SD is the perfect landing spot for Machado. He needs to play on a team with a minimal spotlight thanks to his October comments and antics. He needs to lay low, so to speak. Minimal pressure will be great for him, and he’ll flourish. Then the young guns will arrive and the Padres will begin the climb in 2020.