\u201cYou talk about getting a $20-million-dollar player for pennies on the dollar, I think that deserves an extension for A.J.,\u201d Machado said, referring to the fact the Padres will pay Castellanos just $780,000 while the Phillies pay the remainder of his 2026 salary after releasing him on Thursday. \u201cWith (the lack of) payroll flexibility, getting a $20 million player for nothing, that\u2019s kind of win-win for everybody here in this clubhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lest that be dismissed as Machado simply making a quip, he made it clear later that he was \u201cvery\u201d surprised Preller has not yet received an extension with his contract set to run out after this season<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of weird,\u201d Machado said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a weird situation where you have a guy who has been here for so long and has done everything for this organization. And, I mean, one gets an extension, another one doesn\u2019t. They\u2019ve been on the same realm. Yeah, it\u2019s kind of weird.\u201d<\/p>\n That was a reference to CEO Erik Greupner receiving a contract extension last year that runs through at least the end of the decade. In 2021, Preller and Greupner were both signed to extensions that ran through \u201926.<\/p>\n Multiple people familiar with talks between Preller and team chairman John Seidler, who is in Peoria for the official start of camp, have said a resolution is not far off<\/a>. Preller on Sunday reiterated his belief a deal will get done.<\/p>\n Asked about Machado campaigning for him, Preller said, \u201cYou give out a $300 million contract, usually you get those kind of comments.\u201d<\/p>\n Machado, who signed a $300 million, 10-year contract with the Padres in 2019 and after four seasons playing under that deal signed an 11-year, $350 million extension, did say he thinks Preller will remain.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, there\u2019s a lot going on right now with the organization, but I think they\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d Machado said. \u201cI think at the end of the day, we all know the value of A.J. in this organization.\u201d<\/p>\n The goings-on have included Preller trying to build out the roster and Seidler working through the process of selling the team, which is believed to be nearing its final stages.<\/p>\n Machado on Sunday morning also provided commentary on the state of ownership. He first tied it to the job Preller has done in building a playoff team on a budget.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, the last few years, we\u2019ve been pieces away \u2014 whether it\u2019s ownership or budget-related, we\u2019ve kind of been limited on some things,\u201d Machado said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had some missing pieces. I think (Preller) does his best to put the best team out there. He\u2019s done it the last I don\u2019t know how many years.\u201d<\/p>\n The Padres\u2019 payroll will sit in excess of $230 million once the three contracts agreed to this weekend \u2014 Castellanos and pitchers Griffin Canning<\/a> and Germ\u00e1n M\u00e1rquez<\/a> \u2014 are finalized. That ranks eighth in Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n But almost half that money was committed on or before April 1, 2023, under the stewardship of late chairman Peter Seidler.<\/p>\n Seidler and his fellow owners incurred massive debt while inflating the payroll to $282 million in 2023, third highest in the league. Following Seidler\u2019s death in November 2023, and with MLB demanding the Padres drastically trim their debt, the team slashed nearly $100 million from the payroll and went on to win 93 games in 2024.<\/p>\n With their payroll back among the top 10, the Padres made the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons in \u201925.<\/p>\n![\"Manny](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SUT-L-SpringTraining-Day4-069.jpg\")
Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hugs Trevor Hoffman during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n