Within the high drama of a baseball season, All-Star week often provides a welcome truce. For two or three days, old rivalries are set aside for handshakes and shared stories. Take the Padres’ third baseman, Manny Machado, for example. He is a man whom the Dodger Stadium fans often boo, but he has now delivered stunning praise for a Dodgers legend, and it isn’t the global icon Shohei Ohtani. Then, who?
Well, Machado paid the highest tribute possible to his ex-teammate Clayton Kershaw. The Padres’ third baseman set aside their rivalry during a moment of genuine respect. “He was the best. It was an honor to play behind him. What a competitor. He’s a Hall of Famer for sure. At his age, what he’s still doing. That’s impressive.” — Machado said about Kershaw, as quoted by the Dodgers reporter Doug McKain.
Manny Machado says his former teammate Clayton Kershaw was “the best.”:
“He was the best. It was an honor to play behind him. What a competitor. He’s a Hall of Famer for sure. At his age, what he’s still doing. That’s impressive.” pic.twitter.com/Tan2eoWvHi
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) July 14, 2025
Machado’s assertion that Kershaw is a “Hall of Famer for sure” is backed by a mountain of historical achievements. Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and the 2014 National League MVP. He has also won five ERA titles and a pitching Triple Crown. The veteran recently joined the 3,000 strikeout club as well. His 2.52 career ERA is the second-lowest among all starting pitchers in the live-ball era, which is a truly amazing feat.
Kershaw’s achievements become even clearer when you compare his numbers to the average Hall of Fame pitcher. His strikeouts are far higher, and his ERA and WAR are much lower. From 2011 to 2017, he cemented his legacy as one of the best of all time with a peak career stretch. He does not just meet the Hall of Fame baseline; he goes far beyond it. But is it apt to call him “the best?”
Well, calling anyone “the best” ahead of Shohei Ohtani feels like a bold statement right now. Ohtani is a true anomaly, a three-time unanimous MVP who just put up a record-setting 50 home run, 50 stolen base season. His talent is so immense that even Kershaw has marveled at it. “I don’t remember him even being this good in Anaheim,” Kershaw admitted. “This is unbelievable… He’s just amazing.”
But Ohtani was not there with the Dodgers when Machado played alongside Kershaw. The 14-year vet clearly recalled the 2018 season while paying homage to Kershaw’s craft.
Even though Machado left the Dodgers after just one season, his relationship with Kershaw never soured.
Manny Machado: From Dodgers to ‘Dodger Killer’
Before they were rivals, they were teammates. The Dodgers acquired Machado from the Orioles in a blockbuster 2018 trade for a postseason run. For half a season, Machado played shortstop directly behind Kershaw on their way to a World Series appearance and his alliance culminated in a run to the World Series. However, the season ended in collective disappointment, with the Dodgers falling to the Boston Red Sox.
The next year, Machado signed a massive $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres. Their goal was simple: dethrone the reigning Dodgers. From a Dodgers hero, Machado quickly turned into a Dodger killer. And, he did not take long to take Kershaw deep, smashing a home run off him in his first at-bat as a Padre. That same season, he hit another monster 441-foot homerun off Kershaw.
Despite the intense competition between them, however, the mutual respect always remained. After one of Machado’s home runs, Kershaw was quick to praise his talent. “He’s been one of the elite players in our game for a long time,” he said. And that’s what makes Machado’s endorsement for Kershaw now so powerful.
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