The Padres were not initially the “mystery team” in pursuit of free agent infielder Manny Machado.

But they qualify as such now.

According to multiple sources aware of talks between the sides but not authorized to speak publicly, the Padres are pursuing the 26-year-old superstar with the intention of playing him at third base.

The team has refined its focus to free agents (versus a trade) with the hope of filling the position before spring training.


The thinking is that whether that is Machado or perhaps Mike Moustakas or Marwin Gonzalez, something should fall into place soon.

If Machado signed elsewhere, that would seemingly crystallize the market for Moustakas and Gonzalez.

There have long been reports of a “mystery team” involved with Machado, and many had speculated it was the Padres.

However, while the team did its due diligence, they remained primarily on the sideline until recently. Several sources insisted over the course of the past few weeks that the Padres were not in on the four-time All-Star, the rare superstar player to be a free agent at such a young age.


The Padres became players in the pursuit of Machado a week ago when reports surfaced of a price that was far lower than the expected $30 million or more per year over eight or more years.

At the time, ESPN and USA Today said the White Sox’s offer to Machado was for seven years and $175 million. While the reports were soon dismissed as “inaccurate” by Machado’s agent, the possibility intrigued the Padres. That interest was reported by the Union-Tribune on Monday. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-free-agents-fowler-seidler-20190121-story.html

It was around that time that the Padres connected with Machado’s side, and they continue to talk.

There are believed to be at least two other serious suitors for Machado, with one source saying the Phillies should be considered the foremost team to watch.


While Machado’s stated preference is to play shortstop, where he moved full-time in 2018 after playing mostly third base his first six seasons with the Orioles, the Padres are looking at him as a third baseman. Indications are Machado is open to moving back to third.

The Padres expect shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., the No.1 prospect in baseball, to be in the majors this season, if not on opening day then in short order.

The Padres did not anticipate going this route this offseason, as they believe their young team is a year away from contending.

They were considered a longshot to land free agent Eric Hosmer last year. They did so in part by structuring a deal in an unorthodox manner – with an average annual value of $21 million over the first five years and then, if Hosmer does not opt out of the contract after 2022, when he will be 33-years-old, $13 million a year from 2023-25.


A deal for Machado, who is almost three years younger than Hosmer, could be structured similarly.

The belief remains it will take closer to $30 million a year to get Machado, whose 142 home runs rank seventh in the majors over the past four seasons. However, the market is limited, and the Padres are believed to be legitimate suitors.

Playing for the Orioles and Dodgers in 2018, he hit .297/.367/.538 with 37 homers. His .905 OPS (on-base plus slugging) ranked 11th in the majors.

Machado has had a WAR (wins above replacement) of at least 5.9 in three of the past four seasons, according to STATS. The only other players to have done that are Nolan Arenado, Francisco Lindor and Mike Trout. (Trout and Arenado have done it all four seasons.)


Should the Padres not land Machado, they will likely seek a shorter-term solution.

Moustakas and Gonzalez, who will both be 30 by the start of the season, seem to be the leading options.

Moustakas, a teammate of Hosmer’s in Kansas City from 2011-17, has hit .251/.307/.431 over his eight-year career. He hit .251/.315/.459 with 28 home runs playing for the Royals and Brewers last season.

Gonzalez has spent his seven-year career in Houston, where he was a .264/.318/.419 hitter. He hit .303/.377/.530 with 23 homers during the Astros’ championship season in 2017 and .247/.324/.409 with 16 homers in ’18.


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UPDATES:

5 p.m.: This story was updated with further reporting.