The San Diego Padres’ 2025 campaign came to a crashing halt in Chicago, as their postseason dreams were extinguished by the Chicago Cubs in a tense three-game National League Wild Card Series. For a team that chased the Los Angeles Dodgers until the final weeks of the season and went all-in at the trade deadline, the abrupt ending cut deep—none more so than for star third baseman Manny Machado, whose postgame frustration became the talk of the baseball world.
Game 3 at Wrigley Field was the final chapter, with the Padres falling 3-1 to the Cubs on October 3, 2025. The loss marked the second consecutive year San Diego had lost a winner-take-all postseason game on the road, having been eliminated by the Dodgers in the 2024 NLDS. The sting of coming up short again, especially after a season of high expectations and bold roster moves, was palpable in the clubhouse.
Yet, it wasn’t just the result on the field that grabbed headlines—it was the emotional fallout. As media gathered around Machado’s locker, CBS 8 San Diego reporter Jake Garegnani posed a question that seemed routine in the world of postgame interviews: “How do you assess a season like this?” The response from Machado was immediate and bristling with frustration. “What type of question is that, dude? My guy. How do I assess the season? We just lost. How do you think I assess it? What’s a loss? We lost, how do you assess it? It’s a loss. We lost. Come on dude. I mean, you can ask better questions than that. Let’s go. Come on,” Machado fired back, cutting the session short.
The exchange quickly went viral, with fans and analysts weighing in on Machado’s reaction. Some, like sports radio host Jim Rome, leapt to the defense of the reporter and questioned Machado’s perspective. On The Jim Rome Show, Rome asked, “How could you be surprised by that question or so angered by that question? If now is not the time to ask the question, ‘How would you assess how the season ended?’ When is the appropriate time? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Spring Training?” Rome didn’t stop there, suggesting Machado might have preferred tougher questions about his postseason struggles, noting, “Would you rather get grilled about why your career postseason batting average is .209? Would that have been better? Or, why did you hit below .200 in each of the last two postseasons?”
Machado’s postseason numbers certainly didn’t help his mood. Over the three-game series, he managed just one hit in 12 at-bats, good for a .100 average, though he did drive in two runs and hit a home run in Game 2. The lack of production from the Padres’ top bats was a recurring theme: Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arráez, and Machado combined to go 4-for-33 (.121) in the series, stranding 13 runners. Xander Bogaerts, another high-priced veteran, was at the center of a controversial strike-three call in the ninth inning of Game 3, but even that moment couldn’t distract from the broader offensive woes.
If there was a silver lining for San Diego, it came in the form of Freddy Fermín. The 30-year-old catcher, acquired at the deadline, made his postseason debut and went 4-for-11 with a .909 OPS, providing a rare spark in an otherwise stagnant lineup. Fermín’s emergence was a bright spot in a series where the team’s established stars failed to deliver, and with his contract running through 2029, Padres fans have reason to be optimistic about the position moving forward.
On the mound, veteran Yu Darvish was handed the ball for the decisive Game 3, but the 39-year-old struggled mightily. He recorded just three outs, loaded the bases in the second inning, and was pulled early, derailing manager Mike Shildt’s plans for a must-win scenario. Darvish’s challenging 2025 season and his contract, which stretches through 2029, raise questions about his future effectiveness and whether the Padres need to consider alternative options in their rotation.
The Padres’ “Old Guy problem” was a topic of debate throughout the season, but it wasn’t so much about age as it was about value and durability. Machado, at 33, delivered a strong regular season with 27 home runs and 95 RBIs, leading the team and providing good value on his $17.1 million salary. His two-run homer in Game 2 was crucial to the Padres’ lone postseason victory. Bogaerts, also 33, had a league-average offensive year (.720 OPS, 11 home runs, 20 stolen bases) and was a defensive asset, ranking among the top seven shortstops by advanced metrics. Yet, his overall production fell short of the sky-high expectations set by his $280 million contract, and a fractured foot limited his impact down the stretch.
Comparisons to other aging stars around the league only intensified scrutiny of the Padres’ veterans. The Dodgers, who edged out San Diego for the NL West crown, benefited from strong performances by thirty-somethings like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. Across the league, players such as Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Judge, and George Springer continued to defy the typical aging curve. For the Padres to keep pace, they may need more from their own “Old Guy” core or look for younger power sources. Newly acquired Ramón Laureano showed promise, slugging .489 with nine home runs in 50 games before a finger injury ended his season; he’ll be back in 2026 on a $6.5 million deal.
Ultimately, the Padres’ 2025 season will be remembered for its unmet expectations, high-profile struggles, and the raw emotion of its star players. Machado’s postgame outburst, while perhaps understandable in the heat of the moment, became emblematic of a team frustrated by its inability to deliver when it mattered most. The Padres’ leadership, from GM A.J. Preller to manager Mike Shildt, now faces a pivotal offseason. Upgrades may be needed at third base to spell Machado and boost the lineup, while the pitching staff requires both depth and durability.
As the Dodgers and Cubs move forward in the postseason, San Diego is left to reflect. The sting of another early exit lingers, and the questions—both from reporters and within the organization—are only just beginning. For Padres fans, hope rests on the promise of new faces like Fermín and Laureano, and the possibility that their veteran stars can rebound for one more run. The 2025 season may have ended in disappointment, but the story in San Diego is far from over.
