Sports Writing, Feb. 28 Dominican third baseman Manny Machado said Tuesday he was honored to be able to defend the San Diego Padres jersey for the rest of his major league career.
“I feel honored to wear this uniform for the rest of my career,” Machado said Tuesday at the press conference held at Peoria, Arizona, USA, the Padres’ training ground, where the new deal that will will keep the Padres slugger as a member of the team for the next 11 years in exchange for $350 million.
Machado clarified that despite publicly announcing he would opt for the open market after the 2023 MLB season, he knew he would not be leaving the Padres.
“In my mind, I was always going to be a dad. We knew we wouldn’t. I don’t want to go anywhere,” said the 30-year-old, who described the squad members as his ” family away from home”.
“It’s a family, you’re my second family away from home, that’s what it’s all about.”
Machado, who hit .298 last season with 32 home runs, 100 runs and 102 RBIs, highlighted the commitment of team owner Peter Seidler and team management, led by AJ Preller, to s sure he could stay ninth in the NL West.
Machado, who finished second in the NL’s Most Valuable Player voting last year, highlighted his excitement for the upcoming Major League season.
“We have a real opportunity to go very far,” he said.
For his part, Preller highlighted the trust that the team has placed in the Dominican.
“Doing a deal like this is because there’s real trust. He’s part of the Padres family now. He really loves being Padre. He loves this city, he loves his teammates and that comes through. every conversation,” Preller said.