Manny Machado: 'I Played Like S--t' in 1st Year with Padres After Big Contract

Manny Machado was his own harshest critic when assessing his first season with the San Diego Padres. 

"I didn't put up the numbers I expected to put up," the Padres third baseman told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "There is no excuse. My batting average wasn't there, a couple things weren't there. I'm disappointed in myself."

Machado added, "I played like s--t."

The 27-year-old signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with San Diego in February. Following the Padres' 1-0 loss in the season finale Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he owns a .256 batting average, the lowest mark of his eight-year career.

On a positive note, his 32 home runs make him one of four players with at least 30 dingers in five consecutive years. However, over the last 30 days, he has a .207/.337/.425 slash line with just as many strikeouts as hits (18).

ESPN's David Schoenfield noted:

"I attributed the slow start in April to the new team, big contract, trying to do too much and so on. When he had a monster June [.314/.368/.695], it appeared he was finally settling in and would once again be one of the best all-around players in the game. But he has totally gone in the tank the final two months.

"In fact, he has been so awful you can hope he's been playing through some nagging injuries or something. Because if he simply has lost focus and interest because the Padres were out of it, that's not a good sign."

Machado denied the notion he gave up on the Padres, per Acee.

"I'm never going to shut it down," the four-time All-Star said. "I looked like s--t, and I own up to it. Obviously, I didn't play to my abilities. ... When they pay you a lot of money, a lot of responsibilities come with that. I didn't want to play like that. To say I shut it down and I didn't play, that is just false. I gave it my all."

Frustrations in San Diego aren't limited to Machado, as the Padres finished 70-92, their ninth straight losing season. That led to the firing of manager Andy Green on Sept. 21.

Padres executive vice president and general manager A.J. Preller told the Associated Press (h/t USA Today):

"We feel like we've got a young talented group that has a chance to be competitive. We made some progress in the earlier part of season, but as the second half went on, we didn't see the team getting into a spot where we could see continual improvement. We feel like a different person in that chair has a chance to take a young, talented group into a different spot."

Whomever takes over at Petco Park will have the opportunity to maximize the likes of Machado, shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and first baseman Eric Hosmer.