First pitch: 5 MLB spring training storylines we will be watching this week
By Kevin Henry
MLB spring training storyline: Will the spending for the San Diego Padres pay off?
With news breaking on Sunday that the Padres and Manny Machado were finalizing an 11-year, $350 million contract extension, it continues a jaw-dropping trend when it comes to the spending in San Diego. How confident are the Padres knowing that one of the biggest questions looming over the team (Machado’s recent announcement of his intention to opt out of his contract) is suddenly no more?
Talk of what could be to come with Machado was certain to be a distraction for Padres, but that’s now in the past. The Padres are also hopeful that the issues with Fernando Tatis Jr. are in the past as well as he has reportedly targeted Tuesday as his first spring action since injuries and a PED suspension kept him off the field last season. He still has until April 20 at the earliest for the PED suspension to be in the rearview mirror as well, but things are looking good (on paper, at least) for what should be a star-studded Padres lineup in 2023.
There are plenty of new faces (including Xander Bogaerts, Nelson Cruz, Michael Wacha, and others) in the Padres clubhouse, so how is the chemistry early on in the spring? We’ll find out when we visit Padres camp and watch them play against the Chicago Cubs and the arch-rival Dodgers.