Padres News: Joe Musgrove Opens Up About the Manny Machado Contract Extension
San Diego has plenty to smile about today as they no longer have to worry about seeing Manny Machado in a different uniform for years to come. The star third baseman and undisputed leader of the team agreed to an $350 million extension that will keep him with the Padres for 11 more years on Sunday.
Fans and teammates have been ecstatic following the news and even though Machado himself reassured that baseball was his biggest priority during contract negations, the team can focus fully on winning a World Series this season. They have had an incredible offseason and put together one of the best rosters in the MLB.
Starting pitcher Joe Musgrove spoke to The San Diego Tribune and expressed just how happy he was to hear that Machado received the money he was looking for from the front office.
"That’s the guy that everyone’s kind of relied on and counted on him. When he’s in the lineup, you feel pretty good about your chances to win," said Musgrove. "So imagining what it’d be like with all these great players and not him wouldn’t be the same, so I’m super stoked.”
Machado had one of the best seasons in Padres history in 2022, finishing as an NL MVP finalist and willing the Friars to just a few games away from a World Series appearance. He won the city over game by game and stepped up to every leadership role the team commanded.
Musgrove himself just signed his 5-year deal with San Diego worth $100 million and has seen the team reward players such as Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, and Fernando Tatis Jr. However, he knew Machado would be the piece to bring them all together.
“That’s the one guy that, as many pieces as we’ve added over the offseason and over the last year or two, the team wouldn’t feel as complete or the same without Manny around," said Musgrove.
With their star slugger finally getting his big extension, the Friars are now left to decide if they will do the same for Juan Soto or let him enter 2024 free agency.
