After counteroffer, Manny Machado and Padres are worlds apart

The San Diego Padres and Manny Machado remain far apart on contract extension talks, despite a consistent effort on both sides.

Give the Padres and Manny Machado credit — they do genuinely care, and want to reach an agreement on a new extension. A.J. Preller and Pads ownership value the fact that Machado signed prior to their all-out investment in the team.

Machado knows how invested the Padres are on bringing a World Series to San Diego — and they are close. The Pads made it to the NLCS just last season, and are a threat to win the NL West again this year.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t helped in contract extension talks. Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune-Review, San Diego’s most recent offer to Machado was a five-year extension to his already-existing deal, which would pay him $21 million a year for the final half-decade. That would essentially come out to a 10-year, $260 million deal, or somewhere around those whereabouts. The remaining years on Machado’s current deal are five years and $30 million per season.

San Diego Padres: How much money does Manny Machado want?

The Pads current offer isn’t going to cut it, that much we know. But what is Manny Machado’s asking price?

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Machado’s agent is asking for a 10-year, $400 million deal should he reach free agency. That would pay Machado through his age-41 season. As ridiculous as it sounds, Aaron Judge received an even higher AAV this past offseason, and he’s over 30 as well. It may be the new price for elite talent, especially up the middle. Machado plays a demanding position, and this offseason represents his final chance to get paid.

As Scott Rogust of FanSided pointed out, it’s likely that Machado tests the market, which is why he set his asking price so high.

"“With Machado entering his age 30 season, he is going to explore the free agent market. This offseason, Rafael Devers reset the third base market, as he signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension with the Boston Red Sox.”"

While Devers is younger than Machado, if the Miami native can replicate his production from last year, he should hold all the cards in this bidding war.