caulfield12

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/manny-machado-explains-why-he-chose-padres-in-free-agency/1dvdxb1z1b2r7162j92zx3if7c "I liked the game plan, from ownership to front office to the coaching staff to the players," Machado told reporters Friday (via ESPN). "The whole 'shabam' was so perfect." Machado, who shifted from third base to shortstop at the start of last season, indicated one factor in making his decision involved the position he would play, but he ultimately picked the Padres because of their focus on winning. “Shortstop was a big key, but at the end of the day it’s always a matter of what team, what position, how would it be?” Machado said, per the New York Post. “I’ve played third base my entire life, moved over obviously because I’ve always wanted to, the spot was open, but coming here to come play third base, I saw a great opportunity to help out other guys, help out young guys.” "That was definitely a big part of our conversation, face to face," Preller explained, per ESPN. "The biggest thing he kept coming back to was wanting to win. He said, 'If your best club is someone else at shortstop ... I'm open to playing third base.' " Padres chairman Ron Fowler and general partner Peter Seidler revealed they reached an agreement after having a two-hour lunch with Machado, resulting in a record-setting 10-year, $300 million deal. "I'm proud to be a Padre," Machado said. "At the end of the day this is where I wanted to be, and I'm very happy to be here."

The last two years kicking in were based on plate appearances (550+) in years 7/8 in the contract...when he would be 33/34 (bday in July at mid season). Supposedly, another $30 million in incentives. None guaranteed. No option, club, player, mutual, swellopt...

We’re talking about whether Hector Gomez was wrong about Machado...apparently the stadium actually turned out to be an advantage for SD, nobody thought about that angle.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ Might not want to look at the cover page on the entire newspaper. Cant imagine the Tribune or Sun Times or even Daily Herald going that far unless it was Harper. And maybe the White Sox made a mistake taking away the downtown view when they opened up New Comiskey facing the wrong way. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-manny-machado-wbc-adam-jones-0222-story.html Manny Machado mentioned the view of the skyline among the reason he enjoys Petco Park. “I think I have pretty good numbers there,” he added. That’s true. In four games while a member of the Dodgers and Orioles, Machado was 8-for-18 with a double, two walks and seven RBIs. He might like the place even better if it were not for one iconic moment involving Machado and his friend and San Diego native Adam Jones during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Bernardo Flores vs. TBA 2 p.m. Peoria, Arizona On Deck: The Padres host the White Sox, 12 p.m. PT at Peoria Stadium. Starting rotation candidates Luis Perdomo and Jacob Nix will be among the Padres pitchers. White Sox have to be elated this game’s not in Glendale...I think they have one more matchup, around March 6. You know Hahn and KW wouldn’t especially enjoy the storylines. Only coverage so far is KWFN FM, but I’d be shocked if MLB.com doesn’t pick it up if Machado and/or Tatis, Jr., are in the starting lineup. https://www.mlb.com/news/manny-machado-news-conference-padres "It's about bringing a championship to San Diego," Preller said. "A lot of people over the last few years have been very patient as we've tried to build something that's going to stand up long term. Obviously, it's an exclamation point here today with the signing of Manny." Judging solely by Friday's introductory press conference, it's pretty clear Machado did his homework. He's well-versed in the Padres' farm system, and he's willing to move back to third base to accommodate the pending arrival of Tatis, the top shortstop prospect in MLB and the No. 2 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline. "It was just a perfect fit for us," Machado said. "Those young prospects that are in the top farm system in the game ... I know what they're going through. Whatever I can do to help them out in any way, that's what I'm going to do." But the Padres' future isn't solely about the prospects. Big league vets like Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers and Austin Hedges are in San Diego for the long haul, too. Machado is now easily the biggest star of that group, and he's probably the biggest offensive star in San Diego since Tony Gwynn. In seven big league seasons, Machado has already amassed 33.8 Wins Above Replacement -- higher than any other Padres player in history not named Gwynn. "I'm truly blessed to be here. I'm truly blessed to be a part of this organization," Machado said. "Since day one, since we met you, we knew it was the right fit for me and my wife to be here. We're very excited to be here and start this new journey of our baseball career, our lives -- to take on that San Diego weather and take on this team." As his introductory press conference came to an end, Machado was asked how much better he can get. He's only 26, after all. How much longer might the star third baseman be able to extend his prime? "Ten more years," Machado said, breaking into a wide smile. "This is just the beginning. I still haven't reached my ceiling." Historically speaking, neither have the Padres. But with Machado on board for the next decade, they just might.

Not the jerseys the team will wear for giveaway promotions...

But we blew way past our policy of no longer giving out 4-5 year contracts to free agents. Progress. Lets not forget people, any deal without the opt out wasn’t going to fly. We even thought it might be 2, likely 3 years. 5 was a shock, 4 was what seemed the reasonable number of years before the opt out kicked in...they wouldn’t even consider it, which makes absolutely no sense to the forest of the baseball executive world without a doubt.

It’s going to get so tiring if we have to listen to all the nonsense about it actually being a $350 million offer to Machado for the next year...NO, it wasn’t, just repeating that over and over again won’t get you anywhere with this fanbase anymore, or referring to the “paradigm-shifting” Luis Robert deal. Burned one too many times.

Moncada, Jimenez or Robert getting busted would be the icing on the cake this offseason. Then again, Castillo was rewarded with the starting job and our best overall fWAR catcher with four remaining years of control was traded for an overpriced reliever I’m now convinced 90-95% of teams wouldn’t have awarded that remaining contract were he a FA on the open market.

Eckstein was never anything close to the best pure hitter in his college class. He’ll be fine, he’s probably the one aspect of this rebuild I’m least worried about busting.

Doubtful Gomez has any “in” with the Boras/Harper camp like he obviously did with Machado.

Hard to argue at the time when Alexei, Jenks and Floyd were also solid...easier now in retrospect.

Hector, just go away...of course, he was never categorically wrong during this process, just tired of getting hopes up.

He was never going to be a starting SS at the big league level...

The Phillies absolutely have to be willing to go up to $350 million guaranteed. Their roster is constructed to compete for the next 2-3 years, and they’re likely to get shut out of the playoffs because their starting pitching is short unless they add one more middle of the order bat. No way Boras turns that down for a shorter deal with SFG.

There’s just no way he subjects himself to that twice...although it’s already looking like it could be over in the next week unless he really wants to go to SFG and work out a really creative shorter term deal with higher AAV.

He was one of those kids who was 6-8 months ahead of the rest of his draft class? Looked it up. He was drafted after he had already turned 19, with a May 2nd, 1997 bday. 1st round going on 3 years ago.

Can someone cue the GIF of the villagers storming The Beast’s castle with pitchforks and torches in Beauty & the Beast, por favor? So basically “Middleton persisted” while KW and Hahn were either vacationing or golfing somewhere. Impossible to imagine Reinsdorf interrupting his Chairman of the Board duties to stay in Vegas for multiple days in order to close a deal out.

“No, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.” Just an English major, sometimes teacher...

Some of that was playing CF instead or his preferred and more instinctive RF, but the whole “Harper’s defense is falling off a cliff” in 2018 was merely based on a sum total of count ‘em...FOUR 50/50 defensive plays he didn’t make, one or two of which are balls that arguably were lost in the lights. Padres chairman Ron Fowler: ‘We’re a lot happier than the #Whitesox right now.’ Should put that billboard up in Hahn, KW’s and Reinsdorf’s neighborhoods to wake up to everyday...maybe it will serve as a source of inspiration, but probably not. They’re all too comfortable.

Lol. Watch the replay again. The SS took an extra beat or two getting rid of the ball...between a ball hit a bit in the SS/3B hole, a batter getting the advantage out of the LH box and his slightly above average speed surprising the infielder, you have the perfect recipe for an infield hit which won’t happen when scouting reports get out that Rutherford is one step faster than expected coming out of the box.

He has a nice stroke...came up in his ST at-bat and acted like he belonged out there.

An 800 ops the second half of the season...especially for a nothing salary, that might have been our biggest success of the the entire season if he was properly relegated to DH-only duties.

I think at this point they simply want to keep providing you new material in terms of total payroll committed to 1B/DH and the lack of fWAR return on their overall investment, especially from 2011onwards with the addition of Dunn and later LaRoche/Abreu. Alonso belongs 100% to that Sox tradition of inefficient resource allocation. We always say how EASY peezy it is to find production there and in LF, but never seemed to succeed at it.

Considering the scope of disappointment, lack of playoff success and lengthy record of front office debacles, he’s pretty lucky to have any fans left supporting this organization at this point. Other than the Cubs and Cardinals, few fanbases historically have tolerated/supported teams that just aren’t all that entertaining or competitive. There’s simply too much competition for attention and entertainment dollars these days. More important priorities like health care, education and having enough money to afford a decent 1-2 week family vacation take precedence.