Manny Machado 'Excited' to Be With Padres for Rest of Career After Contract Extension

After agreeing to an 11-year, $350 million contract extension on Sunday, San Diego Padres star Manny Machado expressed his exuberance at the chance to remain with the team for the rest of his time in the majors.

"They believed in me since day one, and here we are. ... We're excited to be here for the rest of our careers and have this hat going into the Hall of Fame," Machado told reporters Sunday.

The 30-year-old had originally planned to opt out of the final five years and $150 million remaining on his contract after the 2023 season, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Machado had set a Feb. 16 deadline to reach a new deal, but his agent continued negotiations with the Padres beyond that date.

Machado has been the face of the franchise since he signed with San Diego in 2019 on a 10-year, $300 million contract. In 2022, he put forth one of the best campaigns in his 12-year career and finished second in National League MVP voting after hitting .298/.366/.531 with 32 home runs and 102 RBI. He helped lead the Padres to a surprising berth in the NLCS, defeating the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers along the way.

Thanks to Machado's presence on the team, San Diego has become an attractive destination for other star players around the league. Former Boston Red Sox star shortstop Xander Bogaerts signed with the Padres on an 11-year, $280 million deal this offseason. At last year's trade deadline, the team acquired standout slugger Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals.

Machado's deal puts him in rare company, as he received the fourth-largest guarantee in MLB history behind only Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts and Mike Trout.