Associated Press 1:20 PM ET2 Minute Read
Manny Machado plans to exercise the release clause in his contract with the San Diego Padres after this season.
Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres in February 2019, a deal that gives him the right to opt out and become a free agent after this season. The third baseman, who turns 31 in July, would lose $150 million from his current contract, which has an annual salary of $30 million through 2028.
“Obviously where I stand, the team knows my situation with the upcoming opt-out,” Machado said Friday at the Padres’ spring training camp in Peoria, Arizona. “I think I’ve expressed that I’m going to sign off after this year, but I think my focus isn’t on 2024. I think my focus is on 2023, what I can do for this ball club, what I can do for this organization has done and what we will continue to do here. I think something special is growing here and I don’t think anything will change.”
Machado’s contract was a record for a free agent when he agreed to it and the second largest in the major leagues, behind Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million. But he’s now 11th-highest to remain with the New York Yankees after an offseason surpassed by AL MVP Aaron Judge’s $360 million nine-year contract. Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout leads the Major League with $426.5 million.
“Markets change,” Machado said. “Since I signed five years ago. It has changed enormously. Things change and evolve. As a player about to exit, that’s pretty good to see.”
Machado, a six-time All-Star, is coming off a season in which he finished second in NL MVP voting. He batted .298 with 32 home runs, 102 RBIs, a .366 on-base percentage and a .531 slugging percentage.
His presence helped the Padres go 89-73 and reach the NL Championship Series before falling to Philadelphia.
Machado declined to comment on negotiations for a revised deal.
“I’m just here to play baseball and keep doing what I have to do. I’ll let my agent, the front office, and AJ and Peter do it,” Machado said, referring to general manager AJ Preller and owner Peter Seidler.
Padres coach Bob Melvin said, “I don’t want to know what it would be like if Machado played somewhere else.” That provision is in his contract. It’s within his right to opt out, but we’ve also shown a willingness to keep the important people here.”