Earlier this week, Roberts said he had not spoken to Machado about the tactic but that he would certainly say “hello” to him in spring training. The Padres play the Dodgers on Sunday at Camelback Ranch, though Machado and most of the team’s other regulars are not expected to make the trip.

Manny Machado has built for himself a reputation as a trouble-maker. This past postseason alone, during the San Diego Padres’ NLDS clash against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he made waves when he threw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout,

There is a sense that a still-talented team must make the most of the upcoming season. The urgency is heightened by what unfolded last fall.