Padres' Manny Machado Defends Dodgers' Massive Spending

Machado has a strong, NSFW take on the Dodgers' lavish payroll.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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San Diego Padres superstar Manny Machado has surprisingly come out in strong defense of the Los Angeles Dodgers' massive spending on player salaries in recent years, despite the Dodgers being the Padres' biggest rival in the NL West. Machado said he "(expletive) loves it" and believes "every team should be doing it."

Why it matters

Machado's comments highlight the divide between players, who generally favor uncapped spending, and some teams and fans who are critical of the Dodgers' financial advantage over most other MLB clubs. As a player, Machado benefits from the high salaries the Dodgers are able to offer, even if it makes his team's path to the playoffs more difficult.

The details

In comments shared by ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Machado offered an NSFW defense of the Dodgers' spending spree, saying "I (expletive) love it. Every team should be doing it. That (expletive) is (expletive) great for the game." Despite being a rival of the Dodgers in the NL West, Machado sees the Dodgers' lavish spending as a positive for players, as it drives up salaries across the league.

  • Machado made these comments on February 15, 2026.

The players

Manny Machado

A superstar infielder for the San Diego Padres.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Padres' biggest rival in the NL West, known for their massive payroll and spending on top free agents.

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What they’re saying

“I (expletive) love it. Every team should be doing it. That (expletive) is (expletive) great for the game.”

— Manny Machado (ESPN)

The takeaway

Machado's surprising defense of the Dodgers' spending highlights the divide between players, who generally favor uncapped spending, and some teams and fans who are critical of the Dodgers' financial advantage. As a player, Machado benefits from the high salaries the Dodgers are able to offer, even if it makes his team's path to the playoffs more difficult.