The San Diego Padres signed Nelson Cruz to a one-year, $1 million contract Wednesday, ensuring that the 42-year-old will spend at least one more season in professional baseball. If healthy, he could provide another powerful bat to San Diego’s stacked lineup.

Though the Padres’ deal with Cruz is short-term due to his age, signing the heavy hitter may provide value. As a member of the Twins and Rays in 2021, Cruz batted .265 and hit 32 home runs in an All-Star season. He did not finish the 2022 season because of an eye injury, which required surgery in the offseason. Before he stepped away in September, he was batting .234 with 10 home runs in 124 games.

Cruz doesn’t necessarily fill a need for San Diego but could serve as a supplemental bat in a strong lineup. With a core quartet of Fernando Tatis, Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado, the former Texas Ranger star will not have to serve as the focal point at this point in his career.

The 2023 season will be Cruz’s 19th as he joins his eighth MLB team. After starting his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005, he played eight seasons for the Texas Rangers and appeared in the 2011 World Series.

After a stint in Baltimore in 2014, he moved on to four seasons with the Mariners and two full seasons with the Twins, who traded him to Tampa Bay halfway through the 2021 season. He played for the Washington Nationals in 2022, who bought out his contract for $3 million after declining to give him a mutual option.

In his career, Cruz has 459 career home runs and 2,018 hits, a result of efficient production over the course of a lengthy career. It is unlikely that he will be able to reach many more MLB milestones in the time he has left in professional baseball. But as a member of the Padres for the next season, he will have a chance to serve in a supporting role for one of the best teams in MLB.

The Padres have an injury to a key player on their roster, after Sunday’s loss to the Colorado Rockies after Manny Machado went down early. In the first inning of the game, the third baseman injured his ankle while trying for an infield ground ball. During the fall, Machado left leg turned awkwardly, and he couldn’t put weight on the ankle after getting up and had to be helped off the field.

Machado was later diagnosed with an ankle sprain after X-rays came back negative. Although the injury looked more serious at the time, the team is still very optimistic about Machado’s prospects going forward. Manager Ryan Flaherty said that there wasn’t any serious damage done. “Fortunately, when he felt himself slip, he was able to shift his weight to the right and probably avoid more serious damage. All in all, it’s as good as it could be,” he said. “We have to wait for some of the swelling to go down and he gets treated. We’ll probably have a better idea of that [Monday].”

Machado was replaced by Sergio Alcantra at third base, but the Padres were still in need of some help as the Rockies hammered the Padres 8-3 on the way to their 10th straight victory over them at Coors Field. The Padres have been very successful this season, and Machado has been one of the integral reasons that they’ve excelled. San Diego sits just half a game back from first place in the NL West, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve collected a good record away from home going 24-14 in all road contests.

Machado had been arguably their best player all season, batting .329 with 12 homers, 46 RBIs and 83 hits, leading the Padres in all categories. Machado has been valuable to San Diego, especially with the absence of shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. who has not played this season due to a wrist injury sustained in March.

Los Angeles is home to stars – the Dodgers fortified that reputation, acquiring both star pitcher Max Scherzer and all-star infielder Trea Turner from the Nationals.

The Dodgers are sending a lucrative package of prospects to Washington: pitcher Josiah Gray, catcher Keibert Ruiz, pitcher Gerardo Carrillo and outfielder Donovan Casey. Gray and Ruiz were the top two prospects from Los Angeles’s farm system.

Scherzer is having a stellar season, pitching to a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts. He is owed $35 million in this final year of his contract, although it will be paid off in deferrals through 2028. He will join a rotation of Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin. Recently added pitcher Trevor Bauer is out indefinitely after possible criminal offenses arose off the field.

Turner is currently batting .322 with 18 big flies and 49 runs batted in. He is just 28 years old and is under control through the 2022 season.

Los Angeles has a history of making big splashes at the trade deadline. Previous examples include acquiring Yu Darvish and Manny Machado.

Major League Baseball’s Opening Day will be here before you know it. Let’s break down each team’s prognosis into the 2021 season, following an abbreviated 2020 season.

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In 2020, the San Diego Padres ended their 13-year playoff drought finishing second in the National League West Division behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres have made the postseason six times and lost two World Series across the franchises’ 52-year history. Last season, San Diego finished eighth in ERA with a 3.86 ERA and fourth in homers with 96. From the looks of it, the Padres have what it takes to make the playoffs once again in 2021.

Here are San Diego’s projected starters.

SAN DIEGO PADRES PROJECTED BATTING LINEUP:

1. OF Trent Grisham
2. SS Fernando Tatis Jr
3. 3B Manny Machado
4. 1B Eric Hosmer
5. OF Wil Myers
6. OF Tommy Pham
7. 2B Ha-Seong Kim
8. C Austin Nola
9. Pitcher

SAN DIEGO PADRES PROJECTED PITCHING STAFF:

• SP1 Yu Darvish
• SP2 Blake Snell
• SP3 Dinelson Lamet
• SP4 Chris Paddack
• SP5 Joe Musgrove
• CL Keone Kela

SAN DIEGO PADRES TEAM OUTLOOK:

Over the course of the offseason, San Diego made a plethora of moves. One of those moves was trading starter Joey Lucchesi to the New York Mets in a three-way trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates for starter Joe Musgrove. The Padres also engaged in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for ace Blake Snell. The last deal the team participated in was acquiring ace Yu Darvish and his batterymate Victor Caratini from the Chicago Cubs.

Besides trades, the Padres signed relievers Mark Melancon and Keone Kela. They also re-signed Jurickson Profar and added second baseman, Ha-Seong Kim. The padres lost first baseman, Mitch Moreland, relievers Trevor Rosenthal and Kirby Yates, starter Garrett Richards and catcher Jason Castro to the free-agent market. Regarding their pitching, San Diego improved immensely but did not have one up on the Dodgers. Their bullpen has competitive arms, but they could use another elite reliever.

Their offense is powerful because of superstars Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado. The rest of the starting lineup is up to par but doesn’t match the other top teams in baseball. From the looks of it, the Padres will be in the playoff hunt, but they would need a few more pieces to be a World Series caliber team.

San Diego Padres Schedule:

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On Wednesday night, superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the San Diego Padres. This signing secured one of the largest contracts in American sports for Tatis, and it keeps him in San Diego, where he established himself as a star-caliber player.

The Padres acquired Tatis via trade with the Chicago White Sox when he was in the minor leagues in 2016 for aging starter James Shields. In 2019, Tatis exhibited so much talent in spring training that the Padres started him at shortstop on opening day. He has been in the big leagues ever since.

Within the mega contract, Tatis will receive a full no-trade clause, allowing him veto power over any potential deals that could arise. The $340 million deal marks the largest contract given to a player before reaching arbitration — nearly $200 million more than Mike Trout‘s contract extension.

Trout’s second contract extension set a domestic sports record with $426.5 million guaranteed, and Mookie Betts’ contract came in second with $392 million. Following them, Tatis received the third-largest contract in baseball history, and he did so at age 22. Trout and Betts were each 27 years old when they signed their respective monster contracts.

Tatis will join third basemen Manny Machado as the only members of the Padres making more than $300 million. Both Machado and Tatis are represented by agent Dan Lozano. Machado’s agreement with San Diego before the 2019 season gave the organization what they needed to face their rivals: the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Padres came to life during the 2020 abbreviated season, with Tatis playing a big role following his rookie season, which ended due to injury. In fact, Tatis was the best player for the first half of the season, and his talent and personality brought along much-deserved stardom.

In 2020, Tatis finished fourth in MVP voting. He also slashed .277/.366/.571 with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs in 59 games. Expect Tatis to only improve as he enters the prime years of his career. At just 22 years old, the future is looking very bright for Tatis and the Padres.

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The San Diego Padres ended their managerial search on Thursday.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Padres are hiring Jayce Tingler to lead the club.

Tingler, 38, is actively the major league player development field coordinator for the Texas Rangers. He has ties to general manager A.J Preller who was the assistant GM of the Rangers before becoming the Padres GM in 2014.

Tingler replaced Andy Green, who was fired Sept. 21 after going 274-366 with the team since he was hired ahead of the 2016 season. Rod Barajas served as the Padres’ interim manager for the remainder of the season, which marked the team’s 13th straight year without a playoff appearance.

Despite signing superstar Manny Machado in the previous offseason, the Padres finished last in the NL West with a 70-92 record.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Tingler, a Missouri native, played college ball for the Mizzou Tigers and was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2003 draft. He spent four years in the minors, reaching Double-A before ending his playing career and climbing up the managerial ranks in the Rangers organization. He’s managed in the Dominican summer league, worked in the Rangers’ minor league system, and spent time as an assistant GM. He is currently managing the Dominican winter league team to a 9-1 record.

Tingler is respected and known for his work ethic and game knowledge. He is also bilingual as he is a native Spanish speaker, which should be an important skill for him on a Padres organization filled with international prospects.

Former Rangers manager Ron Washington and former Padres player Mark Loretta were also in the running to replace Green. The Padres hope Tingler can be the change the managerial organization needs as the talent pool increases in San Diego.

After capturing only a scarce 22 wins thus far during the MLB season, Baltimore Oriole fans continue to struggle finding reasons to rise and applaud at the Camden Yards. Although the Orioles themselves offered no reason for it, fans rose to let loose some unfamiliar cheering Tuesday night in response to an all too familiar face’s arrival on the field, former third baseman Manny Machado.

Despite bringing a somewhat disappointing halt to the fireworks, which just his meer presence detonated after a strikeout, Machado’s return momentarily illuminated the lowly Baltimore crowd for perhaps the first time all season. Machado initially found his way out of Baltimore last year when the team sent Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers just prior to the trade deadline. Since his departure, Baltimore’s worn a paper bag over their heads as arguably the league’s worst team. After his contract expired, Machado surprisingly signed with a dark horse candidate, the San Diego Padres, ending the buzz–filled “Manny sweepstakes” which also rumored more notable teams such as the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Dodgers as more probable destinations for the four–time All Star. Thanks to his outstanding play more so in Baltimore than anywhere else, Machado eventually inked a monster 10–year, $300 million dollar deal before this season’s commencement.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019- TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Machado entered last night’s game hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. Despite his early strikeout, Machado added to those numbers after lifting a home run into left-center field, something he made a habit of doing during his time wearing Orioles colors, as it rounded out as his 100th home run at Camden Yards. Machado’s home run helped the Padres secure their 39th victory this season, as they defeated Baltimore 8–3. Machado himself finished going 2–4 with a walk and RBI single alongside the home run.

Machado spoke on his return after the game with a smile on his face as he commented, “I guess it’s just good to be back in Baltimore, hitting at this park. It brings back a lot of memories. … Playing here, this is all I’ve known for seven years and to be back here was truly amazing.” Although he refrained to answer a curtain call after his home run, Machado did momentarily illustrate his enjoyment during the affair, acknowledging the crowd with a cap tip and salute during the game’s early stages.

Tuesday night’s game also allowed Machado to continue his hot streak, as he’s not recorded a hit for the 12th consecutive game, while also batting an astonishing .469 since June 13. The Padres will proceed to ride Machado’s success further, as San Diego currently sits two games outside the playoff picture.

Machado will extend his reunion visit for one more day, as the Orioles and Padres will clash once more Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at 3:05 p.m. EST.

The San Diego Padres look to be one of baseball’s most exciting teams. After being in the dumps of the NL West and seeming to be hopeless, everything began clicking for them at the right time.

Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers look to have settled in at the spacious confines of Petco Park. Manny Machado is the team’s biggest free-agent signing and hopefully the most impactful for 10 years and $300 million. That’s not to mention that Fernando Tatis Jr is the best prospect in the MLB and the best alive not named after another former Expo.

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After their farm system was ranked No. 1 overall, it’s no surprise that they’re clicking. Since 2005, 13 of the 14 teams named No. 1 went to the playoffs in two years. The only team that didn’t, the 2011 Kansas City Royals, reached back-to-back World Series just a few years later.

Fans around San Diego are recognizing that the team is talented and it’s no surprise. The Padres sit alone on top of the NL West with a full game lead for the first time since 2010.

How could you not be ecstatic when your rookie shortstop makes plays like these?

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

On April 12, 13, and 14, the Padres look to wrap up a four-game series against their division rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks. After winning the first game 7-6, they could sweep Arizona. Tickets for the remaining games begin at $11 on StubHub.

After that, the Padres return to San Diego for a quick two-game matchup against the Colorado Rockies. Both teams feature two young and talented third basemen, in Machado and Nolan Arenado, and it should be a high-scoring event. Tickets for Monday, April 15 start at $15 before dropping to $9 for Tuesday.

Then, the Padres break out of the NL West, where every team is at or over .500, to take on the Cinncinati Reds. They’ll host them for four days and hope to continue a successful season. Tickets for that series range from $15 to $155.

Here is the Padres’ schedule for the rest of April:

4/12 – @ Arizona Diamondbacks

4/13 – @ Arizona Diamondbacks

4/14 – @ Arizona Diamondbacks

4/15 – Vs Colorado Rockies

4/16 – Vs Colorado Rockies

4/18 – Vs Cinncinati Reds

4/19 – Vs Cinncinati Reds

4/20 – Vs Cinncinati Reds

4/21 – Vs Cinncinati Reds

4/23 – Vs Seattle Mariners

4/24 – Vs Seattle Mariners

4/26 – @ Washington Nationals

4/27 – @ Washington Nationals

4/28 – @ Washington Nationals

4/29 – @ Atlanta Braves

4/30 – @ Atlanta Braves

Manny Machado signed a record-breaking deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. His new contract is for 10 years and $300 million, the same contract Bryce Harper turned down from the Washington Nationals at the start of this offseason.

It appears that Machado’s slow pace in free agency worked to his advantage. Though he’ll join a lackluster team in San Diego, he was given the largest free agent contract in American sports history.

Machado Signs Record-breaking deal with Padres

It’s reported that the pact also includes a fifth-year opt-out clause. By then, Machado will be only 31 years old and could easily fetch another big contract, assuming the current MLB collective bargaining agreement is renegotiated.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The Padres now have $528 million in Machado through the 2028 season, Will Myers through 2022 and Eric Hosmer through 2025. All three are expected to still be talented players in two to three years when a crop of new prospects cracks the big league roster.

After a longer free agency than his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Machado can finally join a team. This paves the way for teams that lost out on the young shortstop to fling cash at Harper. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox were reported to be in on either of the pair. After the Machado deal, rumors broke that Harper is unsure about Philly. Now he’s got all the leverage in the world. With spring training only two days away, Harper’s free agency will be an interesting story to follow.

Houston Astros star Justin Verlander called out the excuse that rebuilding teams hurt the market for big free agents. On Monday, he tweeted: “100 or so free agents left unsigned. System is broken. They blame “rebuilding” but that’s BS. You’re telling me you couldn’t sign Bryce or Manny for 10 years and go from there? Seems like a good place to start a rebuild to me. 26-36 is a great performance window too.”

Verlander Comments On MLB Free Agency

Like last year, the top free agents of the class are still unsigned. Boston Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez went unsigned until February 20 and top pitcher Jake Arrieta didn’t sign with the Philadelphia Phillies until well into March. The common write-off was that they were aging players, well past their prime. But this year, 26-year-olds Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are still unsigned in mid-February. To have a superstar from 26 to 34 seems like a prime time for a rebuilding team, especially since the players may be three years away from their primes. But instead, a hesitation to spend money by owners in the only sport without a salary cap and some allegations of collusion have killed the free agency market.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

That’s not to mention that the current baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement has hurt everyone involved. Younger players are under six years of team control in the majors before they are free to negotiate. Take Cesar Hernandez, who signed with the Phillies on July 2, 2006, as a 16-year-old. He won’t become a free agent until after the 2020 season and 14.5 years of team control, meaning 14.5 years of undervalued talent. Older players — the ones most likely to negotiate the CBA because minor leaguers and international players have no say — now see their contract offers dry up as teams realize they can get a similar amount of production for a fraction of the price from young players. Because of short-sighted negotiating by the MLB Players’ Association, everyone but the owners win. Minor leaguers bring in money while getting paid almost nothing. Shohei Ohtani and similar international players get much less than market value. Young players are used up till their contract runs out and old players are left waiting for the contracts of the mid-2000s. Meanwhile, the owners reap the rewards of all of this.

On the same day as the Verlander tweet, David Samson, former president of the Miami Marlins, tweeted “There is a problem that will not be fixed by players systematically tweeting about the broken system. The reality is that players and agents have to adjust to a new reality.”

Christian Yelich, who the Marlins traded away before his MVP season, shot back: “Consistent with your anti player rhetoric but adjusting to this “new reality” isn’t exactly the solution either.”

The current MLB CBA does not expire until December 2021.

Spring training is within sight. Baseball fans everywhere are clamoring for it. The free agency market hasn’t done it. Baseball is clearly losing its spot as a year-round sport to the NBA. With under two weeks left until teams head south, both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are still unsigned.

Ex-National Harper Meets With Padres

As of Thursday, the bidding scene has grown so desperate that the San Diego Padres — almost always a joke of a franchise — secured a meeting with Harper. Now the list of teams that want a 26-year-old All-Star has risen up to four even as more and more teams drop out of the race.

San Diego having a chance at Harper doesn’t really help the market. Instead, it cuts into their other moves and puts the rest of MLB’s free agents into a state of purgatory, where they can’t be offered contracts until Harper and Machado get an offer that they like.  But Harper is too good of a fit in San Diego for them to pass him up.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

For years, Harper was projected to be baseball’s first $400 million man. Now some are questioning if he was stupid to reject a ten-year, $300 million deal from his club of seven years: the Washington Nationals. The Philadelphia Phillies, which both free agents seem to not like, and the Chicago White Sox are also in play.

The Padres normally wouldn’t be a prime landing spot. A 66-96 team that’s only added an injured 30-year-old pitcher and a 36-year-old second baseman doesn’t look great. But it’s got a stacked farm system as well as payroll flexibility. Normally, someone like Harper wouldn’t be on the market in February.

Because the Padres met with Harper, it’s okay to assume that there’s serious interest on both sides. There’s no indication on whether or not they’ll lock him up long term or offer a high salary for a shorter amount of years.

Baseball’s hot stove has been cold this offseason. Things were expected to heat up this year following one in which premier free agents didn’t sign contracts until well into 2018, where those offers were much less than what they aimed for and when average players found themselves out of work. Two 26-year-old stars, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, hit the market along with former Arizona Diamondbacks ace Patrick Corbin this offseason.

free agents Machado, Bryce Harper still Unsigned

Experts looked to those three to return free agency back to it’s mid-2000s glory days. Instead, the 2017-2018 offseason repeated.

Now, 78 days after the Boston Red Sox won their ninth World Series, both Harper and Machado remain unsigned. Every day a new article about the pair’s projected values pops up and every day the interest of MLB’s flagship teams, like the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Dodgers, appears to die down. Now the Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies appear to be at the forefront of the chase.

ESPN reports that Machado is sitting on an eight-year deal from the Chicago White Sox, although he is also in communication with the Phillies. The Yankees appear to have withdrawn from the sweepstakes by signing both Troy Tulowitzki and DJ Lemahieu.

The Phillies seem to be the “clear-cut favorite” to sign Harper, though some expect the Washington Nationals to still be in play. Harper may wind up looking foolish to reject the reported ten-year, $300 million deal they offered him at the beginning of the offseason.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Machado’s Chicago offer may not be the ten-year, $300 million-plus offer he wanted, although it’s a big deal for the White Sox. Jose Abreu‘s six-year, $68 million contract is the largest in history. That’s the fourth-smallest franchise-record contract in the MLB.

Before the offseason began, an arms race was expected to develop for the two All-Stars. Philadelphia owner John Middleton said his team might be “even a little stupid about” spending. Chicago traded for Yonder Alonso, Machado’s brother-in-law, and Jon Jay, a close friend. The Dodgers traded Yasiel Puig in order to clear up outfield space. Ownerships look ready to sign the two.  But somehow, both are still free agents. There appears to be an unknown holdup.

Manny Machado appears to be in a standoff with Bryce Harper. The two 26-year-old stars have both drawn interest from the Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies.

White Sox, Phillies Target Harper & Machado

The former Baltimore Orioles shortstop has also met with the New York Yankees. If Harper resigns with the Washington Nationals, it would leave Machado alone as the premier free agent on the market, setting off a bidding war.

According to The Athletic, Machado’s agent Dan Lozano “is barely engaging clubs at the moment, seemingly taking his time and waiting for a team to jump, according to team executives involved in the negotiations.”

Though the markets for both players appear to have frozen over, Sports Illustrated has run numerous articles about “baseball’s free agent freeze” and the reluctance of clubs, even big-market ones, to give out gigantic contracts to players based on past performances. Just this week, New York signed veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to join an infield that already includes Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres.

So far, only 50 players out of the 250 free agents this offseason have signed contracts. Last year, free agents like J.D. Martinez, Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish and Eric Hosmer all didn’t sign contracts until February. Even then, they didn’t get the money that they would’ve gotten just five or six years ago.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

It’s been reported that the White Sox have made a serious offer to Machado. However, it was described as closer to $200 million than the $300 million he’s shooting for. Both the Yankees and Phillies appear to have turned their attention towards the reliever market. The Phillies went after David Robertson and New York looks to be closing in on Zach Britton.

Sources are reporting that neither Harper nor Machado are particularly intrigued by Philly and that both would prefer to be in New York. One source even went so far as to claim to expect an announcement from Machado in early January in the Bronx.  The Phillies are still planning to meet with Harper even as they wait on Machado’s decision.

The Los Angeles Dodgers won a major deal on Wednesday in acquiring highly-touted Baltimore Orioles All-Star shortstop Manny Machado via trade, and Dodgers players and fans seemed delighted.

Manny Machado Traded to Dodgers

In exchange for 26-year-old Machado, the Orioles landed five prospects: third baseman Rylan Bannon, righty Zach Pop, outfielder Yusniel Diaz, right-hander Dean Kremer, and third baseman Breyvic Valera.

Machado is reportedly close friends with Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. The pair snapped a photo together during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

After the All-Star break, the Dodgers (53-43) are 0.5 games ahead of Arizona for first place in the NL West.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

“We tried to maintain a competitive club this year, and that’s why we resisted the offers we had in the offseason to trade Manny,” said Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette of the Machado trade. “But when it became obvious that it was time to look to the future, trading Manny is the first step in the plan to rebuild our ballclub.”

Here are some of the top reactions to Machado’s new destination from Dodgers players, fans and other people around MLB. Even athletes from other sports leagues chimed in:

SLIDESHOW: Sports Figures Who Died In 2018

Machado, a four-time All-Star, also won the Gold Glove Award twice (2013, 2015). He has played all seven of his MLB seasons with the Orioles, and is now expected to help give the Dodgers a major edge in their division.

It was a scene that has become all too familiar in recent weeks: both benches spilled out onto the field, punches thrown and jerseys torn.

Now that the melee has subsided, both the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals learned the repercussions of their players’ actions.

MACHADO VS. VENTURA

Orioles shortstop, and one of baseball’s brightest budding stars, Manny Machado, was suspended four games and Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura was suspended for nine games, according to an announcement passed down by Major League Baseball and reported by USA Today.

The pair became entangled after Ventura plunked Machado in the back with a 99 MPH fastball June 6, prompting the shortsop to charge the mound, landing at least one punch to Ventura’s head.

Kansas City’s right-hander is no stranger to this type of punishment, having been suspended for seven games last season after hitting first basemen Jose Abreu.

But that was just the backdrop.

Chaos ensued after White Sox right fielder, Adam Eaton, hit a one-hopper back to Ventura, who jawed at Eaton before throwing to first for the third and final out of the inning.

HERE’S A LOOK BACK AT VENTURA’S INCIDENT WITH SOX

Machado, too, has been benched previously by the league for a physical altercation, serving a five-game suspension of his own in June 2014, after throwing his bat toward third base after a brushback pitch.

Both players have said they plan to appeal the suspensions.

“It’s just kind of tough when you have to play short because of something that someone else kind of got going,” said O’s Manager Buck Showalter prior to last night’s contest between Baltimore and Toronto.

Machado did not appear miffed by the announcement and was in the lineup Baltimore’s 6-5 win over the Blue Jays, north of the border at Rogers Centre.

Machado went 2-for-5 in the game, with one run batted in. The young shortstop would be sorely missed if his appeal fails to bear fruit, given he is batting .305 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI.

“They came up with the decision and obviously I’m going to appeal,” Machado said. ” We’ll see what happens.”

Machado should have some success with his appeal, but don’t expect the same for Ventura. The Royals righty is beginning to build a reputation in the league for having a bad attitude and a short fuse.

The fight reopened the debate about baseball’s unspoken rules.

Royals Manager Ned Yost came to his pitcher’s defense Wednesday.

“Everyone wants to jump on Ventura’s maturity,” Yost said via Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. “But they look at the incident where (Machado) got hit. They didn’t see the at-bat before when Manny was screaming at him, ‘Don’t throw inside to me, don’t throw inside.’ (Ventura gets thrown into the spotlight that he’s guilty, there’s more to this thing.”

Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third baseman Manny Machado and Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura were both ejected Tuesday night following a bench-clearing brawl that began after Ventura threw at Machado.

Orioles’ Manny Machado Charges Mound, Punches Yordano Ventura

With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Orioles up 5-1, Ventura’s first pitch to Machado– a 99 mph fastball– struck the 23-year-old Baltimore slugger in the back. Machado immediately responded by charging the mound and throwing a punch at Ventura, 25, who threw off his hat to prepare for the confrontation just like his opponent.

Before the two young Dominicans even hit the ground to wrestle, players on the field and on both benches had already begun rushing over to the fight. Even the catcher and umpire got involved, and seemed to attempt to restrain Machado.

While the crowd at Oriole Park chanted “Man-ny, Man-ny,” the all-out melee began, although Machado was eventually restrained by his teammate, starting pitcher Chris Tillman. 

The Orioles extended the Royals’ losing streak to a season-high six games with a 9-1 victory on Tuesday night. Following the game, Ventura insisted the bad throw was unintentional and suggested Machado has a reputation as a hot head.

“Everybody knows what kind of player he is,” Ventura said through an interpreter. “One just got away and he came at me, and I have to defend myself at that point.”

In the second inning, while Baltimore led 5-0, the two briefly exchanged words after Ventura twice threw inside pitches.

Thus, before Machado stepped up to the plate in the fifth, he received a warning from manager Buck Showalter. 

“I thought he was trying to hit him the at-bat before,” Showalter stated. “That’s why I talked to him before he took his last at-bat. I wanted him to be aware of it.”

Evidently, Machado decided to do what he wanted in the end and took his revenge.

“I don’t regret anything,” the two-time All-Star said. “When somebody’s throwing 99 at you, it’s going to hurt. You can ruin someone’s career. You don’t think in that situation. You just react to it.”

The Dominican-American and Ventura will both likely receive suspensions.

“I don’t think that should be in order,” Ventura said.

Still, Machado said: “You got to deal with the consequences once you cross that line.”

Mark Trumbo homered and drove in four runs, and the Orioles also got long balls from Ryan Flaherty, Chris Davis and Adam Jones. Trumbo’s homer, his major league-leading 20th, came off reliever Chien-Ming Wang when played resumed after the brawl. Davis followed with a solo shot.

Ubaldo Jimenez (3-6) gave up one run and nine hits over five-plus innings to end a three-game skid. Baltimore has now won six of seven.

The Royals stranded 13 and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Ventura’s actions in the fifth were a clear indication of the defending World Series champions’ frustration with their losing streak.

“There’s a little frustration when things like this happen,” Royals manager Ned Yost acknowledged.

In the bottom of the first, the Orioles took a 4-0 lead with only one out after four straight hits.

Flaherty led off the second with his first home run of the season, a drive that traveled an estimated 446 feet before landing on Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall.

The two teams will play the finale of their three-game series Wednesday night in Baltimore.

PHOTO: BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 07: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles and Yordano Ventura #30 of the Kansas City Royals fight in the fifth inning during a MLB baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. Machado and Ventura were ejected from the game. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)