Has Power Been Enough to Keep the 2026 Padres 34-Year-Old Third Baseman Afloat?

It has been an uphill battle for the 2026 Padres recently. Despite a thrilling Saturday night win on July 11th, the squad sits below .500 at 47-48. That record was reached thanks to a stretch of nine straight losses in July. Thus far, the Friars are 4-7 in July. The early struggles are made scarier by a subpar 11-15 record in June. Although the team has struggled mightily overall, one bat has been highlighted as the most disappointing player on the 2026 Padres.

Consistency

Since his signing back in 2019, Manny Machado has become a true franchise legend for the Padres. Year in and year out, the third baseman has produced seasons with an OPS of .780 or higher, coupled with strong power numbers. That power has allowed Machado to climb the Padres franchise home run leaderboard, cementing his status as an icon to the Friar Faithful. Great on-base numbers have also been part of the former Orioles' game, with an OBP of .325 or better in every season except 2023. Along with that, his average has been .275 or higher in every season except two: 2019 and 2023. Going into 2026, he showed no true signs of regression. He earned a Silver Slugger Award and an all-star nod in 2025 thanks to a 27-home-run, .795 OPS season, but this year has been a far cry from the Machado of old.

Power Can’t Carry

The Padres team captain has struggled mightily in 2026. Despite retaining the power that has defined his game, leading the Padres by a landslide with 19 home runs, his on-base numbers have absolutely plummeted. The defense is still solid, ranking in the 84th percentile, yet his batting run value has plummeted to the 37th percentile. The seven-time all-star’s contact quality metrics are frightening, with career norms dropping to career lows. His average exit velocity has dropped to the 67th percentile, not terrible, but concerning when you look at the former Dodgers' 93rd percentile ranking last year. The bat speed has dropped from the 84th percentile to the 79th percentile, still good but a drop nonetheless. The surface numbers are not good either. Machado has one of the worst batting averages in MLB, at .196. His OBP is not much better, sitting at .286, well below his career norm of .335. Even with the power, the Padres need their three-time Silver Slugger Award winner to step it up.