Manny Machado, although not officially named captain, has acted as the San Diego Padres’ primary leader this season. His leadership role draws parallels with Mike Trout’s position with the Los Angeles Angels. However, both players share a similar challenge: despite their individual brilliance, team-wide success has been elusive. Trout, a three-time American League MVP, has seen limited postseason triumph, having appeared in just three playoff games with the Angels.
Heath Bell, a former Padres All-Star and respected MLB closer, highlighted this issue during his recent appearance on the Friars Territory podcast hosted by Kyle Glaser. Bell emphasized that even top players like Machado and Trout cannot carry a team to victory alone.
“Manny Machado cannot carry the whole team,” Bell said [From 5:55]. “I mean, you see that in Anaheim, you know, with the Angels, Mike on his best years. Yeah. Doesn’t matter. You can’t carry the whole team with just one person.”
“So, you got to have a whole team. And the Padres do have, I feel like they’ve got four or five guys that can carry the team offensively, but they always got to hit.”
Offensive Inconsistencies Undermine Padres’ Potential
Bell pointed out that the Padres’ success hinges largely on their ability to produce runs offensively. The team has several key players capable of strong hitting performances, including Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts, and Luis Arraez. However, inconsistent offense has hampered their progress for stretches this season.
Despite some struggles, the Padres found renewed energy in their recent series against the Philadelphia Phillies, securing a series win. Bell suggested that maintaining this offensive momentum is critical for the team’s future performance.
Former Padres Closer Reflects on Team Strengths and Weaknesses
Heath Bell spent 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, enjoying his most productive years with the Padres from 2007 to 2011. During his tenure, he established himself as one of the league’s premier closers and earned All-Star honors in his final three seasons with San Diego.
In his discussion on Friars Territory, Bell praised the Padres’ pitching staff, both starters and relievers, as a major asset. However, he stressed that the offensive lineup lacks depth, which prevents the team from consistently turning strong pitching into wins.
“The thing with the Padres is the one weak link that we all knew is they just don’t have depth in the hitting, you know, in the hitting department. And it’s kind of showed,” Bell said [From 5:21].
Bell remains hopeful about the Padres’ chances if their primary hitters can perform as expected.
“And because the pitching staff is capable of carrying them pretty far, but you can’t win games unless you score,” Bell added. “So if your main guys are not scoring any runs or getting on base, you know, you can’t win games.”
Pitching Staff and Offensive Talent on the Padres Roster
The Padres boast a strong pitching corps, including bullpen standouts Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Robert Suarez, all of whom earned All-Star honors for the 2025 season. This pitching strength is a key factor in the team‘s competitiveness.
On the offensive side, the Padres have multiple players recognized at the All-Star level. Manny Machado earned a starting spot at third base in this year’s All-Star Game, while Fernando Tatis Jr. was selected as a reserve. Last season, the Padres had four positional players in the All-Star lineup: Tatis Jr. and Jurickson Profar as starters, with Luis Arraez at first base and Jackson Merrill in the outfield joining as reserves.
Looking Ahead: The Challenge of Building a Balanced Team
The Padres’ situation highlights the challenge of relying on star power alone without consistent team contributions. As Heath Bell noted, even the best players like Manny Machado cannot single-handedly carry a team to sustained success. For the Padres to improve their postseason prospects, finding reliable offense beyond their top hitters will be essential.
With a strong pitching foundation in place, the Padres’ ability to develop offensive depth could determine whether they move past recent disappointments and become true contenders in the coming seasons.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What surgery did Manny Machado have?
A. Manny Machado, who plays third base, underwent surgery on his right elbow’s extensor tendon in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The San Diego Padres stated he will likely need four to six months to fully recover.
Q. Did Manny Machado have surgery?
A. San Diego Padres’ star player, Manny Machado, had surgery during the off-season to fix tennis elbow in his right arm. He started throwing around six weeks ago and has recently increased his practice intensity on the field. Machado mentioned that hitting and fielding are not currently an issue for him.
Q. Is Manny Machado a good player?
A. Machado is having a great year and was recently chosen as the starting third baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game. His 2,000th career hit was also his 100th this season. He has a batting average of .293 with 15 home runs and an .838 OPS.