When the San Diego Padres first signed Manny Machado to a 10-year/$300 million contract prior to the 2019 season, many were questioning the team’s decision to invest this much in a player given their then-current circumstances. The 2018 Padres finished with 96 losses and a last place finish in the NL West. The following year, Machado’s first with the club, San Diego marginally improved, winning 70 games, but still finishing 5th in the West.
A silver lining for the Padres in what was an otherwise lost 2019 season was the debut of Fernando Tatis Jr.