After months spent relying on internal options to fill the void left at shortstop when Corey Seager underwent Tommy John surgery, the Los Angeles Dodgers made quite the splash by acquiring Manny Machado days before last season’s non-waiver trade deadline.
In doing so, the Dodgers replaced the unanimous 2016 National League Rookie of the Year and two-time Silver Slugger with a shortstop who possessed as much talent if not more. It was also a second straight year in which president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman traded for the top player who was available.
Unfortunately, it was not enough to get the Dodgers over the hump. Machado was inconsistent during his tenure with the team and faced plenty of scrutiny over instances of perceived lack of hustle and questionable play.
The Dodgers’ interest in re-signing Machado this past winter was tepid at best, and he ultimately landed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers got their first look at Macahdo over the weekend, and he went 3-for-12 with three home runs and five RBI over the three games.
Machado’s first at-bat against the Dodgers was a home run off Clayton Kershaw. The following night he slugged a pair of homers against Rich Hill, then was hitless in four at-bats during the series finale.
“There might be a little extra incentive,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Machado’s performance. “Obviously playing for a division rival is one thing, but also the familiarity. He’s got former teammates in this clubhouse that I know he wants to show also. You see a little bit of extra fire and focus, certainly.”
Though there were some rocky times while Machado was with the Dodgers, Roberts views the handful of months spent together in a positive light. “I enjoyed having Manny. I really did,” he said.
“To be able to write his name in the lineup every day is a good thing for a manager. I think the guys liked him, he helped us get to the World Series. I think he got a little bit of a bad rap; some of it was self-induced, but he’s a heck of a ballplayer. Very good competitor. He posts, plays every day. I’m a big fan.”
Friedman previously echoed a similar sentiment, explaining why he believed Machado had plenty of care even when his demeanor may have suggested otherwise. The 26-year-old thus far has been received positively by the Padres, who are attempting to accelerate their timeline and dethrone the Dodgers at the top of the National League West.
