-
jesse rogers
multiple authors
Peoria, Arizona — San Diego Padres star manny machado No problem with opponent los angeles dodgers He has continued to spend on players while his own team and others have held back on free agency.
“I love it,” Machado said Sunday from Padres camp. “Every team should do this. It’s great for the game.”
dodgers continued his spending This winter, his salary has swelled to nearly $400 million. contains his signature kyle tuckerTo a four-year, $240 million contract, the best hitter on the market.
Meanwhile, the Padres Signed low cost players Just last week when they brought the pitchers german marquess And griffin canning to go with the outfielder Nick CastellanosWhose $20 million salary is being mostly paid philadelphia phillies.
Machado would prefer to spend like the Dodgers rather than rein in everyone else in MLB in an attempt to achieve a more balanced financial playing field.
“I think every team has the ability to do that,” Machado said. “I hope all 30 teams learn from this.”
As players and owners prepare for labor negotiations to begin next month, many players are being asked whether what the Dodgers are doing — snatching up several good players every winter — is good for the game.
“Obviously I like what the Dodgers do,” the Phillies star said. bryce harper told reporters in Florida. “I mean, they pay money, they spend money. I mean, they’re a great team. They run their team like a business, and they run it the right way.
“… Every team in baseball has an opportunity to do the same thing. Maybe not at the upper end of the money, but they can draft, they can develop, they can trade. I think a lot of teams in baseball can do that, and they should.”
For the Padres, it wasn’t just a few years ago when they signed Machado ($300 million), Fernando Tatis Jr. ($340 million) and xander bogarts For long-term deals ($280 million). San Diego now ranks sixth in spending, about $150 million behind the Dodgers.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Sunday he is not looking for validation or worried about the concerns of others. Instead he chooses to admire mastery, ignore distractions, and focus on the end goal.
“I think, first of all, it’s incredible support from ownership, as we’ve always had, to be in a position to go out and make needs happen, that will help us go out and try to win another championship,” Gomes said. “I think a lot of it is looking at what’s needed on the roster and what’s available. We were in a fortunate position in that we were able to get guys that fit really well.
“…The validation is to win championships and build the best team we can every year. We’re just trying to get a little better every season with the goal of winning championships. Our coaching staff, our players, I think, see it that way. … We can’t worry about it.”
Part of the labor negotiations will likely focus on bosses’ desire for wage limits. MLB players have historically pushed back on that notion, but as the only professional sports league without a limit — and with the Dodgers outshining everyone else — it’s becoming a hot topic.
“There should be no cap,” Machado said. “There’s a lot of money being made. Look what’s happened in the game over the last five years. It’s been great. A lot of teams have the ability to do what the Dodgers are doing. We started it a few years ago [former owner] peter [Seidler].
“Everyone can do it. It’s just their thing whether they want to do it or not.”
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report.
