On Thursday, the San Diego Padres agreed to terms on a six-year extension with ace Yu Darvish.
The price was $108 million, which equals to $18 million per season.
That’s a more than digestible number for a contender, especially if it’s front-loaded (he will make $30 million in 2023, for example).
Darvish’s age (he will be 37 in August) has brought up some controversy on social media, as users wonder how the Padres can pay that much money to someone that old.
One of the most common criticisms is that by spending more than $100 million on Darvish, they are mortgaging their chances of making a serious run at two of their own free-agents-to-be, Manny Machado and Juan Soto.
Machado could opt out of his deal after the 2023 season, and most likely will.
Soto, on the other hand, will test the market after 2024.
MLB insider Danny Vietti makes a good point with his analysis, though.
“If the Padres are handing out 6-year/$108 million contracts to a 36-year-old pitcher, don’t think they’ll shy away from giving Manny Machado and Juan Soto blank checks,” he tweeted.
If the Padres are handing out 6-year/$108 million contracts to a 36-year-old pitcher, don’t think they’ll shy away from giving Manny Machado and Juan Soto blank checks. https://t.co/6ac4S7wowk
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) February 9, 2023
It makes sense, of course.
If the Padres were on a budget and would be forced to choose between Darvish and Machado, for example, one would think they would pick the latter.
That’s not the case, though: they have the money and the willingness to sign all three.
Darvish is all set.
Next up should be Machado, whom they would love to extend before the start of the campaign in order to avoid other teams making bids.
Soto has said he wants to reach free agency, but anything can happen.
In any case, the Parents should be able to sign both if they really want to.
And they do.
NEXT:
MLB Analyst Reveals Details Of Yu Darvish’s New Contract
