Manny Machado Free Agency: How much could Padres' star third baseman be worth when he opts out at season's end?

The San Diego Padres may need to win it all this season if they hope to retain their superstar Manny Machado. The All-Star third baseman has confirmed his intentions of opting out of his contract at the end of the season. While a return to the Padres should not be ruled out, Machado will weigh his options in the free agent market.

Machado opting out of his contract is not a surprising announcement at all, as the star will likely make more money than what remains of his current deal. After signing a 10-year, $300 million agreement with San Diego ahead of the 2019 season, if he does follow through with opting out, he will leave five years, $150 million on the table.

"Manny Machado has confirmed that he will opt out to test the free agency market again next offseason, per @chelsea_janes" - Talkin' Baseball

While $150 million is nothing to scoff at, Machado will likely have no problem surpassing that number if he remains healthy. Given the contracts that were dished out this offseason, it would not be surprising to see the third baseman sign a deal similar to Aaron Judge, who signed a nine-year, $360 million deal with the New York Yankees. The deal would net Manny $40 million per season.

Even if his next contract does not reach those exact numbers, he should expect to sign a contract similar to that of Carlos Correa or Trea Turner. Correa, who was one of the major talking points of the offseason, eventually agreed to a six-year, $200 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, which carries an average annual salary of roughly $33 million.

"Breaking: Shortstop Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins are finalizing a six-year, $200 million contract, sources tell @JeffPassan The deal has a vesting option that can max out at $270 million. It is pending a physical." - ESPN

Depending on whether Manny Machado is after a higher average annual salary or a longer-term deal, the star will likely be able to sign the second $300+ million deal of his MLB career.

A look at Manny Machado's 2022 season

Now entering the second half of his career, Machado remains one of the most dominant players in the league. Last season with the Padres, the hard-hitting third baseman had 32 home runs and 102 RBIs, while also chipping in with nine stolen bases. He finished with a .298 batting average and an .898 OPS.

Thanks to his strong season in Southern California, Manny Machado finished second in the National League MVP voting. Ultimately, he lost the award to Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals.