Manny Machado's contract will create problems for Padres despite his importance

The San Diego Padres might have found themselves in a rough spot. After clearly being inferior to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, the Friars are primed to make some moves this offseason. AJ Preller has what seems to be an infinite amount of decisions to make this winter, but things may actually be harder for him than expected.

One of the Padres' superstars has been a cornerstone of this franchise for six seasons, but his contract is going to start getting tricky for this organization. Just how much of an issue will this be moving forward for San Diego?

Manny Machado's contract will create problems for Padres this offseason despite his importance

Machado, 32, helped turn this franchise around when he surprisingly decided to sign an 10-year, $300 million deal with San Diego. Many people criticized him for the move, saying he was only in it for the money.

Six years later, the Padres' name has consistently been stirred among just a few National League teams as perennial World Series contenders. Machado has played in seven postseason series as the leader of the Padres, but his current contract is going to start making other transactions difficult for his team. Remember, he signed an 11-year, $350 million extension after the 2022 season.

Machado, who likely does not have many years left in his prime, will receive $13 million in 2025 (and count $17.1 million against the tax) before that number jumps up astronomically. He'll earn $21 million in 2026, then will receive $40 million every season from 2027-2033.

Does this insane remainder of Machado's deal handicap the Padres? It very well could do so. There is speculation that the Friars could welcome Juan Soto back to the organization after he played with the New York Yankees for one campaign. Soto is going to cost anywhere in the $600 million range, which feels like it's out of San Diego's reach.

Even without Machado's deal, it's understandable for a club deeming Soto unaffordable, but if you are a team set to owe an aging Machado $280 million in his final seven years, it may as well curb Padres fans from having any faith in Soto returning to a lineup with Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado, and Xander Bogaerts. Tatis and Bogaerts are also owed $45 million combined next year, which doesn't do Preller and Co. any favors. And forget about Soto because there are plenty of other high-end (and even mid-tier free agents) that might be out of San Diego's reach.

The Pads still have a chance at competing for top free agents in the future, but with Machado's contract being severely back-loaded, it makes things all the more likely that signing them will be a greater obstacle.