Having gone months without Corey Seager after he required season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a splash at the 2018 trade deadline by acquiring Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles.
He easily was the best player available at the time, filled a need for the Dodgers, and was the type of impact talent the team had targeted in recent years as they pursued a World Series title.
Machado’s time with the Dodgers didn’t go as planned, and there were instances where his effort was called into question. He became a free agent that winter and went on to sign a $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres.
During a series at Dodger Stadium last year, Machado engaged in banter with a fan sitting in the Dugout Club, wagering his lucrative contract that the Padres would win a World Series before the Dodgers.
It of course was in jest, but when recently asked about it, Machado feigned ignorance, via Dennis Lin of The Athletic:
“I think I’d have to go check Twitter on that one,” Machado said. “I’m not really sure about it.”
At the time, Machado still had not been proven incorrect, but he again was in a position where the Padres will have no say in the matter. They missed the postseason in Machado’s first year with San Diego, and now were just swept by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
It was a particularly rough three games for Machado, who went 2-for-12 with one home run, one RBI and two strikeouts in the three Padres losses. Machado’s lone highlight was a homer off Clayton Kershaw that trimmed into the Dodgers’ lead.
Machado also was involved in a shouting match with Brusdar Graterol and other Dodgers after Cody Bellinger made a terrific catch to rob Fernando Tatis Jr. of a home run.
Dodgers defend Graterol
In a seemingly involuntary response to Bellinger’s leaping grab, Graterol heaved his glove and cap toward the Dodgers dugout. Machado began shouting expletives at him, and it prompted Mookie Betts to get involved.
The usually mild mannered outfielder noted Machado throwing his bat upon hitting a home run off Kershaw and explained that welcomed celebrations by both teams.
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