San Diego Padres fans react to possibility of Manny Machado signing a contract extension by Opening Day: "Let’s get it done!" "News we needed"

Could Manny Machado be with the San Diego Padres for the remainder of his career? In these slowest of slow times for Major League Baseball, as teams prepare for spring training right around the bend, the thought is giving Padres fans a smile.

Machado is currently signed through this season in the final year of an iron-clad five-year, $140 million contract. While he has player options that could conceivably extend the deal through 2028, the prevailing notion is that he will opt out of those options after this campaign and become a free agent.

However, on Wednesday, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal ventured a handful of reasons why he believes that Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres will come to terms on a long-term extension that will better reflect the player's value in today's market and possibly keep him in a brown-and-gold uniform for the rest of his career.

The news was obviously met with an optimistic tone by Padres fans who would love to see the 30-year-old Machado in San Diego for years to come.

In addition to Rosenthal's reasoning, many San Diego Padres fans conceived their own reasons as to why Manny Machado will be with the team long beyond 2023.

Of course, Machado is one of the most talented and marketable talents in the game. If he does seek greener pastures outside of San Diego, there will be no shortage of suitors ready to sign him – and throngs of fans ready to welcome him with open arms.

Some Padres fans seem to be willing to turn a blind eye towards whatever the future may hold, instead focusing on these current days when Machado is locked in with their favorite team.

Manny Machado a consistent star for the San Diego Padres

Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres takes a lead off second base.

In four seasons with the San Diego Padres, Manny Machado has twice finished in the top three of the National League MVP vote. The six-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner surprised the baseball world by signing his current contract with the Padres as a free agent before the 2019 season.

He originally came to the NL with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers via a 2018 midseason trade with the Baltimore Orioles, but moved south to San Diego after just a couple of months in Los Angeles.

In his four seasons with San Diego, Machado has hit .280 with 108 home runs and 340 RBIs.