Finally a Padre: First look Manny Machado in a Padres uniform
Manny Machado’s deal with the San Diego Padres is now official, and he put on his new colors.
It was deemed improbable at various points, but Manny Machado if officially a San Diego Padre after he was introduced to the media on Friday, three days after signing a 10-year, $300 million contract.
“I wanted to be a Padre. This is where I wanted to be,” Machado said at the press conference.” “I’m a winner. I’m a gamer. I love to play the game. … Leave it all out on the field. That’s all I can do.”
Machado was steadfast in his desire to play shortstop with whatever team he signed with this offseason, but he will be the third baseman in San Diego, with top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. coming to play shortstop in the near future. In the short-term, Luis Urias is likely to be the Padres’ Opening Day shortstop.
As is custom during an introductory press conference, Machado put on his new uniform. He wore No. 13 for the Baltimore Orioles and will wear it again for the Padres.
https://twitter.com/Padres/status/1098996625274417152
We'll just leave this here... pic.twitter.com/CH6IGFGh8O
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 22, 2019
The Padres are obviously making a significant investment in Machado, and expectations are high at all levels of the organization.
“Manny Machado is a generational talent, and we’re ecstatic that he’s chosen to spend his prime years in a San Diego Padres uniform,” Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler and General Partner Peter Seidler said in a joint statement today. “This momentous agreement speaks volumes to the direction of our organization, as well as our commitment to bringing a World Series Championship to the Friar Faithful and the City of San Diego.”
The Padres have been to the World Series twice in their history, in 1984 and 1998, losing to the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees. They also haven’t made the postseason since 2006, and they’ve lost more than 90 games in the last three seasons.
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With no NFL team now, the Padres can give San Diego sports fans something to take interest in. General manager A.J. Preller’s last all-in effort to add big-name talent didn’t work. But with a better foundation of talent in the big leagues and coming eventually, supplemented by Machado (and others?), this time around feels different.