Latest Padres rumor could help Dodgers in Shohei Ohtani chase

Earlier in the offseason, the San Diego Padres were rumored to be one of the teams eventually said to be in the hunt for Shohei Ohtani once the two-way star has struck a free hand. Tryin’ to get in the way of the Los Angeles Dodgers again, huh? Yes, these guys are starting to get annoying.

But that was Before The Pads renewed Manny Machado to an 11-year, $350 million contract. It was also ahead of the latest team rumors from spring training this week. San Diego may not be done with the contract extension, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

Heyman reports the Padres will be looking to land both outfielder Juan Soto and closer Josh Hader on long-term deals after the Machado Pact and are expected to begin talks “soon.”

It won’t be an easy task. We’re talking about one of the most successful offensive players of his generation and arguably the best closer in the sport. It’s far from a guarantee that the Padres can pull off any of these deals when you realize how much more money can be made for each player if they have a successful campaign and then can step into the free hand.

But the underlying, unceasing narrative here is that the Padres are relentless. Even if it seems like there’s no chance, they won’t stop until they get their way or a straight answer compels them to shift their attention elsewhere.

Here’s the latest from Heyman’s article in the New York Post:

“Next up: Deals – or at least discussions – for Juan Soto and Josh Hader, arguably the game’s top hitters and top closers. New Padre Xander Bogaerts told Soto after signing Machado (and his own for $280 million), ‘She ‘must bring a bigger truck for you.'”

– Jon Heyman of the New York Post

However, there is a bright side to the Padres adding another mega deal to their payroll before the start of the 2023 season. It will far from officially (and should!) take the Padres out of the Ohtani race, which would pretty much narrow it down to the Dodgers vs. Mets. Still a challenge for LA, but better than dealing with a third team willing to be wildly aggressive on the financial side.

You have to guess Soto is asking for no less than $450 million since he reportedly turned down a $440 million extension from the Washington Nationals. As for Hader, he could be vying for an Edwin Diaz-style contract after the Mets closed the market this offseason with a five-year, $102 million deal.

In any case, adding another market-defining (or near-market-defining) deal complicates matters, as the Padres also desperately need to address their starting rotation next offseason, which will be the next most costly proposition after a Soto or Ohtani deal. You can’t let everything happen!

… We hope.