Soon After Landing a $350 Million Deal, Manny Machado Heaps Praise on LA Dodgers Legend Who Inspires Him the Most

Manny Machado is a player that has had the baseball world on fire over the last few weeks. In February, he announced that he was going to opt out of his deal after the 2023 season. This caused mayhem just as the off-season was coming to a close, with many teams enquiring about Machado’s future. But just as quickly as the speculations surrounding his future began to bubble, he signed a mammoth $350 million deal with the San Diego Padres.

And now, when he will probably retire as a Padre, Machado opened up about his inspiration in MLB. For those wondering, the MLB legend Machado talked about, he played for the Padres’ arch-rivals, the LA Dodgers. Yes! The now-retired slugger Adrian Beltre is an inspiration for Machado.

Manny Machado considers the former LA Dodgers star an inspiration

Fans felt euphoria when Manny Machado signed his $350 million contract with the San Diego Padres. The star infielder has been a key piece for the Padres and will continue for many more years. In a recent interview, Machado opened up on how MLB legend Adrian Beltre inspired him. He said that if he worked hard enough, he may be able to emulate Beltre’s late-career success. MLB shared a video of the interview on Twitter.

In the interview, Machado said, “Oh 100%, I mean we talk about it all the time. It was watching him play at that age, he was going. It was, he could’ve still played a couple more years. You know, how he finished off and uh, you know I think if you work and you continue to work every single day. I think, you know, uh anything is possible. Seeing Beltre do it that age, I think we’re going to be doing it for a long time.” 

Read More: Fan-Favorite Manny Machado Recalls a Fond Memory With Dominican Republic’s New Manager Before the 2023 World Baseball Classic

This is big praise from the Padres star as he lauds Beltre, a true legend of the game. Machado is currently focusing on the 2023 MLB season. The Padres are poised for a great season and look like one of the favorites to win the World Series. The superstar infielder is committed to winning a title. 

Machado is the undoubted face of the San Diego Padres

Since signing with the San Diego Padres in 2019, Manny Machado has helped elevate the team. Furthermore, he has become a top-5 level MLB player in those years. Just last season, in 2022, Machado finished the season second in NL MVP voting. He also helped the Padres reach the NLCS, a feat that they will be looking to surpass this upcoming season.

Watch This Story: From Black Betsy To Wonder Boy: Baseball’s Most Iconic Bats 

Manny Machado’s impact on the Padres organization cannot be understated. He has completely changed the fortunes of the franchise with his stellar play and determination to win. What do you think of the fact that Machado considers Adrian Beltre an inspiration? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!