According to media reports, free agent shortstop Manny Machado has agreed to a blockbuster ten-year $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres.
Machado, a four-time Gold Glove winner at 3B and SS, spent a majority of his career in Baltimore with the Orioles before being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers at last year’s trade deadline, secured the most expensive free agent contract in MLB history.
At 26, Machado posted a career-best .905 OPS in 2018, finishing the season with a .297/.367/.538 slash line, 37 home runs, 107 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. In 66 regular-season games with the Dodgers, Machado hit .273 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs.
Now in San Diego, Machado will be the new face for a franchise that finished in last place at 66-96, but could be on the come-up in a very competitive NL West that has the defending NL champion Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies.