2020 RETROSPECTIVE
YOUR 2020 SAN DIEGO PADRES BY: ANDRES JAIME-MENDEZ
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tar players and chemistry make contract. That wasn’t all. In February of a historic San Diego Padres team 2019, the Padres signed third baseman in a time the city needs it most. Manny Machado to a ten-year, $300 million contract. At the time, this was the These are not your father’s Padres. largest free-agent contract in American After fourteen years of a disappointing sports history. Initially, the Friar Faithful track record, the San Diego Padres are (Padres fans) were skeptical of these playing extremely well and are considered huge contracts, with Myers, Hosmer, and serious contenders for the World Series Machado not living up to the hype in the title. What has changed to make the Padres first years of their contracts. As a result, Ron a winning team? A talented squad, unique Fowler, executive chairman of the Padres, chemistry, and a supportive community. announced that if the Padres did not find Talent is not cheap, especially in baseball. success in 2020, “heads would roll.” Then, The San Diego Padres had to heavily invest second-year player Fernando Tatis Jr. put to attract difference-makers. After a great himself in MVP contention with his fantastic 2016 campaign that earned outfielder 2020 season. No one anticipated that, Wil Myers a spot in the All-Star Game, the right now, the Friars would be World Series Padres signed Myers to a six-year, $83 championship contenders with Myers, Tatis, million extension. Two years later in 2018, Hosmer, and Machado playing top baseball. the Friars signed free-agent first baseman The Padres’ success is not just because Eric Hosmer to an eight-year, $144 million 5
