Three Padres contracts that could complicate trade and free-agent plans

Obviously, AJ Preller and the San Diego Padres are going to want to spend some real money this offseason. They are competing to win an NL West title over the high-spending Dodgers, and that means the Padres will have to pay some players of their own. However, there are a few big contracts already on the books that might hold the Padres back this offseason.

Three Padres contracts that could stall big moves in free agency

1. Xander Bogaerts

Bogaerts still has eight years left on the 11-year, $280 million deal he signed with the Padres before the 2023 season. He is owed $25.4 million per year in each of those eight years, meaning San Diego still owes him over $203 million. That's not great news after Bogaerts has put together back-to-back mediocre seasons. He's been worth just 3.2 bWAR combined since the start of 2024. If that is the kind of production he will be worth moving forward, this is a deal that will hold the Padres back.

2. Yu Darvish

Darvish still has three years and $46 million on the books as part of the eight-year contract he signed with the Padres. While it's not completely out of the question (we've seen older pitchers perform at a high level before), Darvish will be 39 next year. He's been worth 2.8 bWAR combined over the past three seasons, and has missed over a full season's worth of starts due to injury in that timespan.

3. Manny Machado

Machado still has eight years remaining on the massive contract he signed with the Padres. He's owed $25 million in 2026, and will be owed $39 million over the next seven years. If you're counting, that's a total of $298 million owed to Machado over the next eight years. Machado is still playing at a relatively high level right now, but the contract looms large and is about to force San Diego to spend a lot of money on a veteran player, who, let's face it, is past his prime.