Padres Have a Big Manny Machado Problem

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Segun Ajayi | Last updated Jun 8, 2026 9:00 AM ET

The San Diego Padres face growing concern over Manny Machado’s performance as the veteran third baseman struggles through what has been the worst season of his major league career. Machado went 1-for-4 on Friday night in a 5–0 loss to the New York Mets, and he also grounded into a double play in a game that highlighted his ongoing slump.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that Machado’s struggles have reached a point where pressure inside the organization could grow and someone might eventually lose their job. The veteran third baseman has hit just .175/.262/.355 with a 73 OPS+ over 60 games, numbers that would represent career lows across multiple categories if the season ended today.

Machado’s production has dropped sharply compared to his usual All-Star-level output, where he has consistently ranked among the league’s most productive third basemen. He signed an 11-year, $350 million extension with San Diego in February 2023, and the 33-year-old is in the fourth year of that contract.

Someone is going to lose their job with Manny Machado’s struggles:
He is now hitting .169 with a .596 OPS nearly halfway through the season as the Padres are in a free fall.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 7, 2026

Machado earns over $39 million a year and is due that amount every year for the next seven seasons. Although the Padres likely knew they would be paying big money for some of Machado’s declining years when they offered him that contract, they probably didn’t expect it to account for the majority of the deal.

That financial commitment and his current poor form create pressure for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations. His contract is one of the biggest ever in franchise history, and his current form raises questions about how the remainder of the deal will unfold.

Machado turns 34 next month and has played in the major leagues since his debut in 2012 at age 20. He has now logged 1,953 regular-season games and added 51 postseason appearances, placing heavy mileage on his career body of work.

After Friday’s loss, the seven-time All-Star third baseman criticized the growing influence of analytics in the game, saying players face too much information and too many new metrics. Even with those comments, Machado’s core issue remains performance at the plate.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13).© David Frerker-Imagn Images

Through nearly half the season, his batting line continues to sit well below his career norms, and his OPS+ places him significantly under league-average production. In the three seasons since 2023, Machado’s bat speed has deteriorated from 76.7 mph to 71.7 mph.

His fast swing rate has plummeted from 66.3% in 2023 to 37.2% this season. The Padres also continue to struggle as a team, and despite their 32-30 record, they have disappointed so far this season after entering the year with high expectations. They now must find ways to stabilize their offense while waiting for their highest-paid player to regain form in the middle of a long and expensive contract window.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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