Manny Machado is chasing the one thing missing from his résumé

It is hard to believe that Manny Machado is now in his 15th major league season. Through his 15 years, he has accomplished almost as much as anyone in baseball, cementing him as a true face of the game during his career.

The third baseman was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft to the Baltimore Orioles. Machado was called up to the big leagues in the middle of the 2012 season and made an immediate name for himself. He was named an All-Star four times with Baltimore, as well as winning two Gold Glove Awards at third base in his first few seasons. With the Orioles he also smashed an incredible 162 homers with 471 RBIs until he was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers just days before the 2018 trade deadline.

The Dodgers acquired the established superstar amid a championship push. To say the least, Machado helped lead the way during the Dodgers' playoff run, registering 13 homers with 42 RBIs through 66 games. Los Angeles would ultimately go all the way to the World Series before being taken down by the Boston Red Sox in just five games.

What Machado has accomplished

After the 2018 season, Machado entered free agency. He received bids from almost all of the tops teams that had him within their budget but after a long wait, the veteran icon decided in February of 2019 that he would sign a mind-boggling 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres. In fact, at the time of signing, it had been the largest free agent contract in American sports history.

And so his Padres tenure began, hoping to bring the team back to contention in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. His first season in San Diego did not let up, as Machado cranked 32 home runs. The team still finished in last place, but major improvement was made with a bright future ahead. In the shortened 2020 season the Friars returned to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, with Machado finishing third in MVP voting, receiving his first Silver Slugger Award, and also being named to his first All-MLB First Team.

Since then, the Padres have just been on an incline, making the playoffs in all but two seasons with Machado. Manny has continued his sensational play, receiving three more All-Star bids, winning two more Silver Slugger Awards, and being named to the All-MLB First Team again in 2022.

It goes without saying... the accolades are all there. Now, there is just one thing missing from Machado's legacy.

Machado's history in October

As the Padres prepare for their Wild Card playoff series against the Chicago Cubs, it is worth mentioning Machado has been here before. This will be the eighth postseason that the third baseman plays in, and now the fifth that he will play in with San Diego. As previously referenced, Machado was a part of the 2018 Dodgers team that had advanced to the World Series. Besides that, Machado has been to the championship series just twice, losing 4-0 and 4-1 in each.

Surprisingly enough, Machado has actually been a part of the reason his team's have not been advancing. In 51 career playoff games, Machado is slashing just .209/.259/.682, and has struck out 57 times. As the Padres duel with the Cubs tonight for Game 1 in the second consecutive season, we cannot help but remember Machado's 1-for-10 playoff performance last October.

Time is of the essence

The time is now.

San Diego has shown major improvement as the season progressed. The bats finally woke up, we saw new pitching situation strategies, and we saw a team that wants to win.

Machado is now in his mid-thirties, and there is never a guarantee that players will be back in the playoffs. With two years remaining on his deal that keeps him in San Diego, Machado also faces questions surrounding what the Padres have waiting in the farm system for the foreseeable future.

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