MLB notebook: Padres make Machado's $300 million deal official

[February 22, 2019]  The San Diego Padres made their 10-year commitment to infielder Manny Machado official Thursday, revealing that the $300 million contract has an opt-out clause in five years.

The contract, which runs through the 2028 season, would be the most lucrative in major league history if it plays out to its completion. The opt-out is available after the 2023 season.

"Manny Machado is a generational talent, and we're ecstatic that he's chosen to spend his prime years in a San Diego Padres uniform," executive chairman Ron Fowler and general partner Peter Seidler said in a joint statement.

Padres executive vice president and general manager A.J. Preller was a reported a late arrival to the Machado free agent sweepstakes, but he made the deal come to fruition and now considers his middle-of-the-order force to be a cornerstone for a perennial contender.

--Baseball spring training got off to a sputtering start when the first game of Cactus League action was rained out.

The Seattle Mariners led the host Oakland Athletics 5-0 after 1 1/2 innings in Mesa, Ariz., before play was halted and the result wiped out.

It was unclear if the game would be rescheduled. The same two teams are due to meet again Friday at Peoria, Ariz.

--Veteran pitcher Tyler Clippard reached a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians, making the right-hander a candidate to work out of the club's revamped bullpen.

Clippard, 34, has 12 years of major league experience, pitching in 698 career games, and could play a role for the Indians, who saw relievers Cody Allen and Andrew Miller leave as free agents.

According to MLB Network, Clippard can earn $1.75 million if he makes the Indians' roster, with another $1 million available in incentives.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado (8) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the 2018 NLDS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

--The San Francisco Giants reached a minor league deal with veteran relief pitcher Fernando Abad, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported.

Abad, 33, does not have an invitation to spring training with the big-league club. However, he would earn $800,000 plus incentives if he makes it to the majors, according to the report.

Abad was hit with an 80-game suspension by MLB last June after testing positive for Stanozolol. The suspension was retroactive to the beginning of his appeals.

--Former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is joining ESPN this season as an analyst on various studio shows.

He is expected to appear on "Baseball Tonight," "Get Up!" and "SportsCenter," among other shows, according to the New York Post.

--Field Level Media

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.