Manny Machado completed a three-city tour of potential landing spots in Philadelphia today, where he met with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and was taken to dinner by several key members of the organization (links via MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia). Owner John Middleton, president Andy MacPhail, GM Matt Klentak, manager Gabe Kapler and several members of Kapler’s coaching staff were on hand to try to sway Machado toward coming to Philadelphia.
Machado, as one would expect, was vague when approached by the Philadelphia media and asked about his at Citizens Bank Park, telling reporters that the experience was “pretty awesome” and that he “learned a lot about the organization.”
The Phillies, Zolecki writes, prefer Machado to fellow free agent Bryce Harper. Salisbury indicates the same, portraying Harper as a more realistic target should the Phillies miss out on Machado. He adds that the Phils “seem willing” to outbid the Yankees and make the highest offer for Machado. Joel Sherman of the New York Post agrees, calling it a “near certainty” that the Phillies “and possibly even the White Sox” are willing to bid more on Machado than the Yankees. Per Zolecki, the Phils have maintained confidence that they can convince Machado to sign in Philadelphia despite the fact that they’d play him at third base while Machado’s preference remains to play shortstop. The Yankees, after all, will only have shortstop open for the first portion of the season before Didi Gregorius returns, and Fancred’s Jon Heyman again wrote Thursday afternoon that the organization “would love to keep” Gregorius beyond the 2019 season.
At this point, there’s no clear timeline on when Machado will reach a decision about his next team. The infielder himself told Zolecki and others that determining when to sign “is [his] agent’s job” and that he is “just enjoying the ride.” Yesterday did bring about a small flurry of free-agent activity — Trevor Cahill, Daniel Murphy, Joakim Soria and Anibal Sanchez all agreed to terms, while Andrew Miller is said to be close — but none of those deals will come close to approaching the magnitude of Machado’s eventual contract. With the holiday season at hand, there figures to be a lull in Hot Stove activity, so barring a quick decision on an already in-place offer, Machado’s free agency could well drag on into the New Year. There’s been no indication that any of the three teams with which he met this week has made its best and final offer — or any formal offer at all, for that matter.
Thus continues our long national nightmare.
ESPN presents “Harpchado the decision”
Uhhh.. I’ve decided to take my talents… and my lack of hustle to. ???
South Beach
Battered wife syndrome. Yankees fans have been beaten about luxury tax the last 4-5 years that they actually believe it matters. Red Sox got their 12M bill. Who cares?
I don’t know why the Yankees want this guy. I would sign a stop gap SS maybe even Tulo and let Andujar play 3B
Next year go hard for Arenado. He is more of a $300 million player. Then see if you could switch Andujar to 1st or trade him for a SP next year.
The Red Sox will fall back their bullpen is in shambles and the better guys are falling off the board fast.
The Phillies will sign neither Harper nor Machado. Why would either want to play for Gabe Kapler?
We are honestly so far along in the offseason, that I don’t see Machado going to the Yanks. Why? Because it would require a few moves in my opinion, the biggest being a trade of Andujar. Almost everyone agrees that Machado is best used at 3rd. I think the Yanks have shown enough prudence, also considering their current payroll, to simply sign Machado for SS to wing it later on. Sure, at some point a month ago, the prospect of trading Andujar seemed real and then subsequently sign Machado, but it seems more and more unlikely at this point.
I have mixed feelings and most of mine are from the PR side of things. Forget the financial obligation. After a decade of the Yanks being fleeced in the media about this or that bad contract and now having a team that is fundamentally strong in every respect, I would hate to see them sign Machado and have some PR nightmare or albatross and read about it every day. Takes the fun out of the game and the Yanks can’t guarantee a good fit, then I want them to pass. I mean look at Stanton, dude had a very good (not excellent) year, first year and the fans had him on the gurney to the guillotine.
Harper still the better fit in my opinion. Makes more sense long-term. He also has had some exposure to media adversity.
I could totally see the Yanks coming out of this with neither player, which they absolutely don’t need and some nice complimentary pieces including more bullpen arms.
The irony is no teammate has spoken I’ll at all towards machado while Harper was choked by his own teammate
Some of us were pompous and overly confident/successful at age 22. I can actually relate. I was an arrogant F at the same age and was extremely successful in my own career. Doing things at 22/23 like a wiz, and at times didn’t hide the fact I knew my own abilities. From the character side of things, Machado strikes me as a weaker person, whereas once Harper continues to mature – let’s face it men generally mature later, I could see Harper putting up some colossal numbers in the next 3-4 years. What worries me, like any contract, is what happens in 8-10 year’s.
To be fair, Papelbon was the biggest douche in baseball
This.
Exactly. If anything that makes me think higher of Harper lol.
he was 66, but that day, Harper had it coming..
They don’t need to trade Andujar if they get Machado. Machado would play SS until Didi returns, then Machado 3B, Andujar DH, Stanton LF.
Sigh. That’s the “wing it” comment I made, which is pretty much what a $5Billion enterprise would be doing. You’re not maximizing Andujar’s value as a DH. You’re better trading him now and let a team build around him as a 3rd basemen (or make the attempt) as opposed to a DH.
Why would they worry about value if they are keeping him ?
Andujar at DH is maximizing his value. I would be fine trading him for an ace, but no interest in trading him just to trade him.
Sign Machado. Move Andujar to DH or first base.
Actually, with Andujar’s defense at negative WAR, you *are* maximizing his value at DH.
That’s assuming that there’s no way he can improve his defense to an acceptable level. If he were able to be a league average glove AND keep hitting the way he did then his value as a 3b would surpass his value as a DH. .
no trades needed at all. andujar plays 3rd and Machado ss until Didi comes back and trade andujar next off season.
Harper is a much worse fit. it isnt even close. one fills a position of need and upgrades the defense enough to make all the pitchers better and the other does not.
dont fail to look beyond handedness.
They can use him at SS and trade Andujar at the deadline in a package for a pitcher.
I honestly just want to know where they went to dinner last night. Philadelphia has some freaking damn good restaurants.
They just had a Philly reporter on MLB Radio and he said they went to a French restaurant. Don’t remember if he said the name, though.
I would recommend The Magic Pan.
if you like Asian, Sampan is amazing.
I mean, if you like Philly, and nobody really does.
whatever you say, buddyroo.
Royal Boucherie
LOL..was my thought also
Anywhere but them & Yankees
I think at this point the Phillies need Machado. If they do end up signing it’s going to set of a chain reaction of events. Franco will probably be flipped to San Diego first. If this signing goes down their roster is going to go through one hell of an overhaul this off-season.
The Phanatic will also be replaced by Gritty.
NEVER!!
Blasphemy
I saw the beat down Gritty put on Santa
I’d like to keep Franco, have Manny at short and Segura at 2b. Move Hernandez. I’d rather have Franco’s power in the lineup then Cesar at the top. Franco’s potential at his age isn’t being valued at the moment. I like Cesar too, but feel that this move would make a better lineup.
1 Segura
2 Herrera
3 Machado
4 Hoskins
5 Cutch
6 Franco
7 Alfaro
8 Altherr/Williams
9 P
I feel good about that lineup. Alot of pop 1-8
I’d like to think if they actually let Kingery play his normal position, 2B, his numbers would go up significantly. I’d also imagine the team defense would be a heck of a lot better with Machado at third, Segura at short, and Kingery at second.
I’m concerned about Kingery. Looked overmatched to my eyes. I’m not giving up on him but Cesar or Segura is a better idea imo, until we see what his development is like this year. I admit Franco is no Machado at 3B, but he can be spectacular at times too. I just think the guy has 30 HR potential and is just 26. I’d like to see another year of him before he’s moved…and if it matters, Machado wants to be a SS, maybe it helps seal the deal?
I will never understand why all of you people have nothing better to do than to bash on the Yankees. It is not their fault that they are willing to do whatever it takes to put a winning team on the field and most of the teams you guys route four or not.
Bitter fans of teams with bad ownership will do that
Who is bashing on the Yankees? I think it’s in your head bro
“Route, route, route for the home team…” sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I’ll show myself out
Hahaha. You forgot “four”. Maybe it’ll go fowl
Any team that signs this chump is lowering their standards and openly buying a multi million dollar piece of cancer. A player that purposely steps on a first baseman’s heels, purposely takes a longer back swing to hit the catcher, openly admits that he doesn’t hustle, and who knows what goes on in the locker or behind closed doors. Hopefully never again in Dodger blue!
1) purposely steps on a first baseman’s heels – Dbag move, obviously
2) purposely takes a longer back swing to hit the catcher – Much more common than you think
3) openly admits that he doesn’t hustle – Also VERY common, he’s just the only one dumb enough to say it out loud
His issues are severely overstated.
With all these interviews and plate appearances, Johnny Hustle will be even slower getting to first base.
Cool. Normalize bad behavior as much as you want. I don’t want him on my team. Half a season was more than enough for me. Looks like he’s put on a few more pounds since the end of the season too.
Once Manny digs deeper into the numbers, I think he will see just how far apart the numbers are, and ultimately how much money he is losing playing for the NYY.
NY has a higher tax on athletes than Philly, not sure about CHI. In addition, life in NYC just cost more, for just about everything. Sure he can afford to live anywhere on his predicted new contract, but the buying power of his money will be much less. I’d easily argue, that this is a low estimate, but the cost of living in NYC vs Philly/CHI is probably around 15% higher, for all the same stuff – apts, parking, restaurant, tooth paste, toilet paper etc. when you add it up, and if his agent is worth his salt, Manny will conservatively be walking away from, aka losing 75 million dollars if he we’re to sign with NYY for a “similar” offer from Phi/Chi. You could ask, does he want to pay the NYY 75 millions dollars to play for them? That number increases by any difference the Phillies or Whitesoxs pay over the Yankees offer.
If it’s all about the Benjamin’s… no way manny signs with NYY. If he really wants to play for the NYY, it is going to cost him … an absurd amount of money.
Your math is off. It’s fair to bring up taxes and housing costs, but you’re making the assumption he’s going to spend all $300M during the next 10 years. That seems unlikely. Plus, whichever city he plays in will probably be his home only half of the year. You’re right that $300M in Chicago is more than $300M in NYC because New York’s taxes are significantly higher, but the rest of the expenses probably aren’t high enough to factor into his decision.
It costs more to live in NYC because its NYC! For $300 million you think he is worries about bang for his buck? What about being able to live jn NYC over Philly!
What about being on the big stage? All the extra dough as well in endorsements that are more lucrative in NYC and the fact NYC can make him a “brand”.
State taxes have zero relevance. Players pay tax in every state where games are played pro rata.
John Cena has Hustle, Loyalty, Respect. Manny Machado has I’m not Johnny Hustle, Highest Bidder, and Kicking Legs and Throwing Bats.
After John Middletons comments I am deeply concerned about the GM . The Phillies have the money to spend but are sitting here watching the entire division get better. What happened to Hextall when he wasted opportunities. If they don’t get it together they will suffer the same fate.