The San Diego Padres are going all-in on winning a World Series title. Or at least, it appears they are. Especially after locking Manny Machado up for 11-years on a new contract extension, Sunday. The Padres have $1.178bn invested in five players: Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Machado. Though, that list does not include Juan Soto, who the Padres acquired at the trade deadline in 2022. Which means that a contract extension for Juan Soto may not be too far fetched.

For a deeper look at the Padres books, this is what they currently have:

• Machado, 11 years, $350 million
• Bogaerts, 11 years, $280 million through 2033
• Tatis, 14 years, $340 million through 2034
• Darvish, six years, $108 million through 2028
• Musgrove, five years, $100 million through 2027

There are other things such as Robert Suarez‘s player options that could take the 31-year-old through 2027, Ha-Seong Kim has a mutual option that extends him through 2025. There might be some other names on the to-do list such as Josh Hader (who hits free agency during the 2023-24 offseason). Many, may be wondering about Soto’s contract. Well, the young outfielder has one more year of arbitration, but a deal might get done sooner rather than later so that neither Soto nor the front office have to worry about a deal next season. Soto is entering his age-24 season with a team that has gone all-in after making the NLCS in 2022.

With just that one-year of arbitration left on the contract for Juan Soto, he could just be the next extension candidate for the Padres’ front office. With the Padres being in a small-market, it may come sooner, rather than later. There is reason to believe that the Padres will not let Soto walk, with how much the Padres have invested in the five players above. The Padres owner, Peter Seidler, has made it clear that he’s willing to spend money and this is not the first occasion. He did so when A.J. Preller was first named the Padres general manager as well, though back then it was with guys like Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Yangervis Solarte and Yonder Alonso. It didn’t quite work out the way the Padres wanted it to then, but they have already seen more success, this time around.

Now that Machado has received his extension, Soto may want one. Even if not right now, he will in the coming months. The Padres will likely pay whatever Soto wants. At just 24, he already has a championship ring in addition to a career .287/.424/.526 (157 OPS+) slash with 125 homers and 23.2 WAR.

Early in his career, Soto appears to be a generational talent. The Padres’ front office has shown they’re willing to spend whatever takes not only to win, but to keep their star players in San Diego.

Get the latest sports news via Fantom Sports Industries. Follow us on Twitter via @Fantom_sports. Like us on Facebook via Fantom Sports Industries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel via Fantom Sports. Subscribe to our Newsletter! Shop Fantom Sports Industries Merch.

Invest in your favorite athletes like stocks with “Prediction Strike!” Use code FANTOM when you sign up