LOS ANGELES — Manny Machado's locker in the San Diego Padres' spring training clubhouse is prime real estate: at the main entrance, next to the three-foot tall speaker pumping the music into the room. Friday morning, hours before their Cactus League opener, it was tuned to laidback oldies.
Teammates greeted Machado as they walked by his space. Ha-Seong Kim gave him a hug. Xander Boegarts extended a hand. Machado switched between English and Spanish, depending on the teammate. He was lively. He was vibing.
The 2023 Padres are perhaps the most talented — and definitely the most expensive — team in franchise history. The roster brims with stars acquired via trade and free agency over the past four years. Thick World Series expectations hover for the small-market entity punching above its weight.