The San Diego Padres have drawn a firm line around their cornerstone third baseman.
General manager A.J. Preller recently dismissed any notion of trading Manny Machado, calling him and teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. the founders of the modern Padres and stating that the organization never considers moving either player.
The comments came after San Diego’s latest playoff run ended short of a World Series, and they leave little room for the offseason speculation that often surrounds high-priced stars.
Machado’s presence in San Diego dates to the 2019 free-agent signing that signaled the franchise’s shift toward sustained contention.
Preller has described that deal, along with Tatis’ arrival, as the moment everything changed for the organization.
In the years since, Machado has remained a central figure, providing consistent production at the plate and in the field while younger talent developed around him.
The Padres’ postseason path this fall included a dominant Wild Card series win over the Chicago Cubs before a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, who advanced as the National League representative. That early exit renewed external questions about roster flexibility, yet Preller framed Machado as immovable.
Contractually, Machado is under team control through at least 2033 under the extension he signed in 2023.
Together with Tatis, the two players carry a combined long-term commitment reported at roughly $810 million once their current deals conclude, a figure that incorporates Machado’s prior average annual value.
Preller has treated that financial reality as secondary to the on-field foundation the pair provides. Machado, now in the later stages of his career, continues to function as an above-average veteran on a roster that still leans young.
His combination of power, defensive reliability at third base, and institutional knowledge has made him the steady presence Preller appears determined to keep in place.
Since 2019, Machado and Tatis have combined for more than 400 home runs, nearly 1,200 runs batted in, and a joint batting average around .277, along with multiple All-Star selections, Silver Sluggers, Gold Gloves, and Platinum Gloves.
Those numbers underscore the production the Padres have counted on, even as the ultimate championship has remained elusive despite repeated aggressive roster building.
Preller’s public stance effectively ends the latest round of trade chatter involving Machado, whether from fans, analysts, or clubs that might otherwise view him as available.
For the Padres, the message is that their third baseman stays in San Diego, anchoring the club he helped redefine.
