San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler comments on Manny Machado’s contractual status: "Manny is my top priority"

San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler is still enamored with third baseman Manny Machado. Seidler spoke with reporters Tuesday regarding the slugger's plans to opt out of his 10-year contract after this season.

Seidler refrained from discussing Machado's contract at length. However, the owner made it clear that the third baseman is still very much a part of the team's plans going forward.

"Manny is my top priority." - San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler on the future of third baseman Manny Machado

Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres in February 2019. According to Spotrac, Machado would have earned an Average Annual Value of $30 million per season, as well as a yearly signing bonus of $2 million for each season through 2028.

According to multiple reports, the 30-year-old Machado is seeking a new 10-year contract in the range of $400 million. He told reporters on Monday that his stance is nothing personal, it is purely business.

"Business is business. There's no hard feelings. I'm going to go out there and play baseball and perform. That's my job, that's my duty. Like I've always said, it's about the fans and going out there, performing, and bringing a championship to the city."

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the San Diego Padres and Manny Machado are $145 million apart in contract extension talks. The team offered Machado a five-year, $105 million extension that would be tacked on to the end of his current contract in 2029. Machado commented to Nightengale that the business has changed since he signed his current contract.

“The market has changed from when I signed five years ago. It’s changed tremendously. Things change and evolve. And as a player that’s about to opt out, it’s pretty good to see.”

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Manny Machado is a crucial player for the San Diego Padres

Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres celebrates his solo home run

Machado has made two consecutive National League All-Star appearances with the Padres. In four years with the team, he has hit .280 with 108 home runs and 340 RBIs.

The 11-year MLB veteran has placed high on the NL Most Valuable Player balloting twice in his time with the Padres. He was second to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the 2022 MVP vote. He was third in the 2020 vote behind Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts.