9:25pm: Machado has held an in-person meeting with one of the mystery clubs “in recent days,” Martino tweets. The report also indicates that Machado is expected to choose the biggest contract offer he’s presented, with other factors evidently taking a back seat.
8:03pm: The presence or absence of so-called “mystery teams” — unidentified but active pursuers of a given player — has long been a subplot of the market for Manny Machado this winter. With the Phillies, White Sox, and (to a lesser extent) Yankees known to be involved in the hunt, the question is whether other organizations would quietly help drive the bidding.
Now, on the heels of some suggestive comments from Machado’s father (via Dominican journalist Hector Gomez, on Twitter), there’s clear reporting indicating that is the case. Jon Heyman of Fancred tweets that not only is there a mystery team chasing Machado, but that it’s presently the high bidder. Andy Martino of SNY.tv adds on Twitter that there are actually two such clubs in the mix.
While this news is certainly vague in one sense, in that it doesn’t indicate what teams are now involved, it certainly is being presented as being firmly rooted in reality. Some may be skeptical, but it has always made sense for certain clubs to prefer to make their pursuit a quiet one. And the truly hard-to-fathom aspect of the market to date has been the lack of more teams publicly chasing one of the game’s best players, who’s hitting the market at just 26 years of age.
Last we checked in on Machado, a few days back, his agent Dan Lozano was forced to publicly comment on reports of a middling offer from the White Sox. Indeed, the level of money that had been suggested — seven years, $175MM — hardly seems to match Machado’s value when considering his established track record, age, and past open-market contracts. In any event, it seems at a minimum that those numbers may not have represented a full picture of the level of the Chicago organization’s interest.
The latest news puts a much better spin on the outlook for Machado. If there are indeed a pair of mystery teams, in addition to the three known to have interest, then that leaves quite a few more landing spots for Lozano to explore — and, presumably, a fair bit more leverage to work with in trying to move Machado’s earning level northward.
ghostrobot
Mets
MetsFanaticDanny
Definitely the Mets.
nymetsking
Mets and Brewers
Strike Four
Padres
carlote
Brewers? ha! yeah right
augold5
It would be hilarious though given what happened in the NLCS
Stevil
Milwaukee ranked dead-last in production at SS last season. They have somewhere around 120 million in payroll right now with the arb and pre-arb players factored in, so Machado would be splurging, but they’ll get some relief in 2021 when Braun comes off the books. They may not be the stretch everyone thinks they are.
But Minnesota is the team with a glaring hole at 3B and a ton of payroll flexibility. It would probably take a lot to lure a player there, but they have the room to make a significant offer.
deweybelongsinthehall
Funny how I haven’t seen Boston mentioned. Remember Pedroia wasn’t as upset as most fans regarding his late slide. Depends on the average $$ per year it will take. I still see trading Porcello as an option. Add in Nunez and even the Panda contract and take back a longer contract with a lesser average. Creative thinking like what the Dodgers did could get it done. The Sox could use him at third and let Devers learn defense in the minors and then move MM to short in 2020 if Xman goes elsewhere. Controversial but if the average yearly price is right it could be done.
lasershow45
Sox are not going to sign Machado.
mikeyank55
Attention: DANNY
You need to change your pampers. It is unbecoming to have stains running down your leg.
deweybelongsinthehall
Laser, I basically agree but one never knows. I’ve been pushing for a Porcello trade to provide financial relief for 19 and then thought if the money is being spent why not get creative. My belief is Machado will end up with a JDM type deal and if not injured, reenter the market in two years.
MY55: I assume you meant me for some reason and regardless, your lack of class once again shines through.
Benjamin560
Marlins baby!!!!!
thecrown24
Attention MikeYanks55 you’re an Idiot of the highest caliber!!!
deweybelongsinthehall
Big applause. Long live the Crown.
Karlander
You are dreaming. With starting pitching and 2B options still being explored there is no way the Brewers are spending 25 million + a season for this jerk
MetsFanaticDanny
@mikeyank55
Enjoy living your life as the biggest troll. All down clicks. Speaks for itself. See ya………
deweybelongsinthehall
I wonder what Albert Belle would get in this market. One of the biggest clubhouse jerks of all time but also a much better hitter than either Machado or Harper.
bigkempin
Ummm….Boston is already paying Panda to play for SF so that’s a no. Move MM to short in 2020….I assume you mean Mitch Moreland since he’s the only player with MM initials on the 40 man roster. He’s also a FA in 2020…..and he throws left handed….which means he can’t play SS. So that’s also a no.
stymeedone
Porcello, at his current contract, and as a rental, provides little value on the trade market. A rebuilding team wont want him. Most contending teams have already spent their money. Unless Boston is swapping contracts, which takes away from saving the payroll, its a contract dump situation. Porcello is a solid pitcher, being paid a solid amount, in the last year of his contract. Tanner Roark with less excess value.
Polymath
St. Louis Browns or Kansas City Athletics.
mkeyankee
Mke, Probably not but they do have the money and then some.
deweybelongsinthehall
I was thinking or dreaming outside the box with Machado. Likely nonsense but no one saw the Yankees trading for Stanton or JDM not having a second bidder last year.
deweybelongsinthehall
Some teams can definitely afford one year of Porcillo who is as durable as anyone and his playoff pitching in 2018 and CY in 2016 show, he has as big an upside as anyone. My point is the team will decide on the importance of keeping him for 18 and then tendering him after 19 is worth more than a creative trade that frees up money in 2018 but which could add money in 2020 and perhaps beyond. The Dodgers creative trades of last and this off season have shown it can be done.
gomerhodge71
Machado hates Boston
NaiveYouAre
If they offered him the most $, he would love them.
privy
Machado in Boston now that is funny.
privy
I think the Padres are in on this.
live42day
That’s funny
TeddyBallgameYazJimEd
Congratulations to the Doosan Bears of the KBO… your mystery team.. They were a perfect fit..the team’s motto is..”We don’t Hustle”
CincyMariner
Well yeah I could see a Korean team being the high bidder despite Machado having offers that are enough to pay for their league
jp23
Browdie baby!!!
mikeyank55
Yes Danny.you need to start a go fund me and see if you can get enough quarters to add up
thecrown24
it was so much better when this clown wasn’t posting anymore. Psych ward probably had enough of his BS and cut him loose.
deweybelongsinthehall
No. It’s his free time before he has to take his meds.c My guess is the doses get upgraded shortly.
bestno5
Brisbane Bandits are at it again
danrobertori
Machado and Tebow is a 1-2 punch the league isn’t ready for.
snotrocket
This is the dopest comment MLBTR has ever seen.
@DaOldDerbyBastard
I’m here to co-sign snotrocket’s comment.
padresfan619 2
agreed pretty dope
live42day
Agreed
djsnippets
Best quote since “I can feel it in my plums”
djsnippets
Still searching for the “like” button
higherandtighter
Sub-Thread Masterclass Status: Complete
MetsAngelsFan
I hope so. If the Mets signed him to play short, you trade Amed Rosario for a high quality reliever and then you have a team that’s ready to compete for a WS
jh8913
Lol a high quality reliever for Amed Rosario
MetsAngelsFan
I’d dangle him to the Pirates for Felipe Vazquez. Throw in an additional prospect if neeeded.
JFactor
You are gonna need to add several players then.
Wildboyz
Jh8913, you do realize that Rosario was the #1 or #2 prospect in all of baseball as of the of Summer 2017.
He’s also one of the pieces the Marlins want for Realmuto.
He’d bring back more than a
quality reliever.
mikeyank55
Hey Mets Angels-the site has released a new identity that works better for you.
Please click on the home page and register as DOUBLE LOSER.
Good luck.
callingoutdummies247
Hey mike, what do you yank? You must be a fancy lad. You said unbecoming. Now that’s a loser
BigTuna
@MetsAngelsFan
Thought I was the only Mets/Halos fan out there, we may need to snag a beer some time…
HardWorkingAmerican
Read on ESPN that Kros Bryant and Evan Longoria were frustrated about Machado and Harpers situation and that something has to change. If they didn’t have a 300 million price tag than both would be signed already. But Machado will sign with the Angels and the Yankees will swoop in and grab Harper.
purplesteve6
Saw this too. The players will have minimal sympathy from fans on this issue. They complain that more teams aren’t trying to compete for their services. The problem isn’t the money. The problem is the years. If they would take a 2-3 year deal more teams would be involved and the AAVs would probably be up.
Just about no contract longer than 3-4 years turns out to be anything but an albatross for the organization, team, and, as a result, the fans.
deweybelongsinthehall
Agreed. Team’s finally got wise. I think the change Began with the Boston Lackey contract. I don’t recall a similar triggering event that forced the free agent player to play for the minimum during the deal. Sox got lucky but I think it was a big part in teams realizing change was possible. So many bad, expensive contracts that most of the time the team would have invested elsewhere if they could have had a mulligan. Lackey playing for so little was why they were able to trade him for both Kelly AND Craig (forget Craig lost it, many expected him to hit big time in Fenway).
Unclenolanrules
The big contracts would have went away even if the youth movement had not taken place. The Sandoval, Pujols, and Barry Zito deals are three reasons why. Just my thought.
Priggs89
You would think owners would be smart enough to learn from these mistakes eventually…
The only logical way I see the players still getting paid AND the owners being somewhat protected against ridiculous contracts is if they move more towards incentive-based deals. Give Machado $25M/yr, and let him earn another $10M in incentives. That takes the (supposed) 7 year offer from $175M total to a potential $245M. If he performs, he gets the big bucks. If he doesn’t, he still gets plenty of guaranteed money, and the owner isn’t on the hook (as much) for a massive deal.
outinleftfield
It’s against the CBA to have incentives that are performance based.
deweybelongsinthehall
Maybe reopen the CBA and owners show good faith. They will not give up what they’ve gained but they are showing they will pay, they just relief from long term risks.
purplesteve6
The players seem to want it all. Now they want to run the franchises, too. It’s a market. If a team really, really, really wanted a player they would outbid the next team for his services. News flash: that’s exactly what’s happening. It’s the players that have proven to owners, team, and fans that the return on investment has not been satisfactory in recent years. This isn’t communism. You don’t get to force people to buy something at a price they don’t want to pay. A-Rod, Stanton, Greinke, Chapman, and Jansen weren’t setting the new minimum contracts for players with similar credentials. They were either exceptions, got lucky, were part of a different time, or some combination of the above.
Other than having contracts set by computers, I don’t see what the players could really do about it other than play better after signing a big deal. Bryant and Longoria are saying that more teams should be bidding and trying to win. That was NEVER how it was. It has been a given for almost 30 years that only a handful of teams were going to have a chance at the best players when they hit free agency. The only way for smaller market teams to combat this was to give team-friendly extensions. It was always seen as a win-win. The team gets their guy and the player gets security. The players don’t want to sign these anymore!
Really, the only thing that has changed is that the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs, etc. either don’t want to give out these crazy long-term deals or they already are saddled with a few of them and don’t want more. Besides that, teams are gun-shy about going beyond 3 years.
The players are getting record arbitration numbers. The league minimum, qualifying offers, and salaries as a whole are climbing every year. Again, if Harper or Machado would be willing to listen to 2-3 year offers, the AAVs would probably be record-breaking and more teams would be engaged.
JohnB
Dewey, I would hardly call a 5 year 82.5 million dollar contract, playing for the minimum. He had a clause in the contract that had him paid the minimum when the Cardinals got him because he was out for the year in 2012. Dis you happen to forget that the Sox signed Price to a 7 year 210 million dollar contract? Short term memory I guess. Teams have continued to sign players to large and long term contracts so the comment that it started with Lackey is invalid. See Tulowitzki, Kemp, Sabathia, Posey, Verlander etc…
deweybelongsinthehall
JohnB. No I haven’t forgotten about Price but that IMHO opinion was because of them trying to correct their prior year’s good with Lester (I for one liked how they traded him and thought they were going to pull a Chapman before the Yankees did – I was clearly wrong there). Which of the contracts you cited were signed after the teams saw what Lackey was going to play for? There will always be large contracts but most will be shorter term than before. Betts will be the exception .
JohnB
All those teams made those deals after Lackey. So no one was following the Lackey deal you spoke about.
NaiveYouAre
Kenta Maeda says hi.
angelsforever
arte moreno adores machado, just like he fell in love with albert.
david klein
Lol you know who is owns the Mets right?
Gwynning
With 35 career victories against them I’d say it’s Greg Maddux…
Vito sciascia
Manny spotted in Queens. ?????Come on Brodie rather see Bryce
Nobby
Marlins
ChiSox_Fan
Still White Sox.
No one else has offered more.
This article is all nonsense.
angelsforever
gonna be the Angels. Arte Moreno ADORES Manny.
stansfield123
Now, now, Mets fans, quiet down, don’t be so demanding. Mets already have Tebow. How many big stars do you want, like all of them?
chitown311
White Socks
goldenmisfit
White socks were mentioned aside from these mystery teams dude your team is lucky they won’t even offer American dollars LOL.
ramonskee
Will you offer an American sentence? Get it together, Grouch.
chitown311
American Dollars? You mean compared to American yen or American pesos? K.
Connorsoxfan
Maybe he’s Canadian
cardinalsincontentionagain
or Australian
MiserablePadreFan
Padres signing Manny! Let’s get dem rings yo!
jrussell92024
Padres!
pacman alan
Nationals!
walls17
Could see Anaheim and the Mets being involved
Vizionaire
not the angels. nowhere to play him.
Mike's Trout
Angels have an opening at 3rd.
Vizionaire
the team needs pitchers not an extra infielder.
NGC
I wouldn’t count Machado as “an extra infielder”. This helps their pitching, having Simmons and Machado on the same side of the infield would be ridiculous. They can then shift Cozart to 2B.
Mike's Trout
Not much pitching available so we go after other options.
Vizionaire
that has been the cause of angels demise last few years.
thelastonetodie
That would be quite the left side
trident
I can see Angels signing him. A position logjam has never stopped them from making a splash (re: Pujols). I just wish they spend their money on Trout or pitching. It would have been nice to get Corbin back.
ron cey
locking in Trout is priority. dump albert. sign machado
reneaguerra
Splash? Or worst contact in team history? The titanic made a splash too!
andrewgauldin
Angels
knglover
I bet it’s the Marlins.
asuchrisc
This actually kind of makes sense.
bravesfan
Not at all lol
Andrew Fox
Red Sox and Braves.
Disco Dave
agree. dombrowskiesque
bravesfan
Braves are a really far chance but still a slight chance
bravos14
I’d pass, no denying his talent but his attitude combined with hustle issues and salary would make for 8 to 10 years of annoying debates of trade him or keep him. IMO Manny’s not the kind of man that handles criticism well. It will surely happen, deserved or not, and then comes the misrepresented quotes followed by media freeze-outs, etc. No thank you, I’ll pass, unless we can get a deal with team options, trade options, around year 4.
purplesteve6
The Braves make zero sense a suiter for Machado. They are a thrifty team as it is and he’s made it clear that nothing matters more than the highest bidder. They just signed a 3rd baseman for $23 million. They have Shortstop that is developing and comes at a way more sensible value. On top of that, they just displaced a productive 3rd baseman. There are just too many other needs for them to even think about brining in Machado for the kind of money and years he would need to have.
Fanof29teams
And none of that matters if he hits 35hR , 300avg, 110 RBIs, great defense , 40 2b, everyone loves numbers more than they hate bad’behavior.
InPolesWeTrust
Manny to the Sox? Makes zero fiscal sense. Staying paying Tubby McFat to play in SF again.
vacommish
Braves would have him play short for one year, then move him to 3rd after Donaldson leaves. They then deal Riley, Swanson, Allard and Gohara to the Marlins for Realmulto, Straily and a bullpen arm
BravesCanada
That is way too much for that Marlins package…if they traded that package, they could get a legitimate ace
todd76
That’s a terrible trade for the Braves.
soxandpats
God I hope the Bosox don’t waste there Betts and Sale extension money on Johnny Don’t Hustle.
Begamin
The mystery team is the highest bidder, hmmmmmmmm. How can one know what the mystery team bid and not know who the mystery team is???
Heyman? maybe i’m callin bs
dray16
Heyman is ALWAYS full of s***
troll
and it’s not always the bull variety
seamaholic 2
Easy. That’s exactly what Machado’s agent told him, and that’s what he writes down.
ron cey
its the rangers
TwinsTrio
THIS is the story that Lozano wants out there, instead of the one that revealed the White Sox actual offer to his client.
Payne Train
Chicago Bulls !
Gumby82
You know he’s going to end up with Golden State on a one year deal for the veteran’s minimum
gmenfan
Well played.
Vizionaire
red chickens!
tazman4878
Cardinals
PhanaticDuck26
i bet they are one of Harpers “mystery” suitors… i refuse to believe that the Phillies (and possibly white sox) are the only two SERIOUS players for Harper. LA and STL have to be in on Harper. WAS and NYY i will never count out on Harper, either…
stan lee the manly
Ya I have to agree on the Cards. I think they are tiptoeing around Fowler and his mental state, they really need a bounce back year from him if they don’t get Harper and all accounts point to him always beening a guy that has to be propped up to thrive.
lasershow45
Washington has been in for awhile
Bjoe
I don’t believe there’s one, let alone two mystery teams. Just trying to drive up the bidding
heater
Exactly. The old man is trying to pull a fast one.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
Mystery Team, highest bidder….#VillageIdiots!
bobtillman
I think Jon Heyman’s next job will be at Buzzfeed……
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
Ha!
sufferforsnakes
Or TMZ.
Samuel
Or MLBTR.
troll
the onion
HalosHeavenJJ
You mean after Boras fires him?
steven st croix
Or HuffPo
InPolesWeTrust
Thank you for the chuckle!! BuzzFeed!!! Bahahahaha
ron cey
lol. ge needs to apologize now!
dewssox79
lol buzzfeed…well played
kenly0
my guess is Padres
revolt1799
Rangers have money and the space at 3rd so I can see them going for Machado…
Modified_6
I thought the same. A-Rod signing all over again.
murphydog
Great ballpark for him to hit in. Most important, he’d make more there and Arizona because of taxes.
Vogt83
Never thought about Texas…. That could work. However, if there is a so called mystery team… I believe it’s the Padres.
Newspeaks
I wish you were right…. But id rather wait until we get into the new stadium and have those hiccups taken care of, then go after Arenado.
revolt1799
Yea, I know right… I mean my opinion they should sign maybe Mike Moustacas (i butchered his name, lol) to a one year deal maybe with an option and then next season go after a big name bat or picture like Cole!
revolt1799
Pitcher *
Newspeaks
I wouldn’t be disgusted with signing moustakas, but for his sake i hope he gets a longer contract then hed get from us. I like the Wisdom kid if he doesnt get burnt out and has the right attitude(i.e coachable and athletic enough to be coached) so i hope we sigb a little older veteran 3rd that has some knowledge to plant and wont take us out of the running for a future 3rd baseman thatll be there when were ready to compete in 3-17 yrs. But any pitcher that hasnt had 5 surgies and doesnt collect Social Security is ok with me at this point.
jim stem
Rangers picked up the kid from the Cardinals who had one good minor league season and a cup of coffee. Gallo will not be going to 3b again, per the team. Texas is a very logical choice.
bkbk
The Angels make too much sense and given past history to not be it.
Vizionaire
angels need pitchers. besides, arte really don’t like any players making negative news.
terror661
Do they ever go after need?
denny816
Who cares anymore? Wake me when he signs.
stubby66
ditto
dgid
ANGELS!!!
I know. I know. Wishful thinking…
Jerryred
texas rangers
niched
Yomiuri Giants, Real Madrid!
ken48tribe
And in a few years, PSG will steal him away and pay a huge transfer fee.
metfan3324
its with out a doubt the N.Y Mets…
harmoney101575
too add to all the other infielders they signed already…. RIGHT! LMAO
elscorchot
*to.
MetsFanaticDanny
I agree, it’s the Mets. If they were to sign Machado, they could essentially package Rosario with say Juan Lagares(to shed his salary), for a player like Nicholas Castellanos. This is just a speculative scenario but could you imagine Machado at SS with Castellanos & Conforto in the corner OF while Nimmo plays CF with Broxton the 4th OF. Just look at this lineup:
1. Nimmo(CF)
2. Lowrie(3B)
3. Cano(2B)
4. Machado(SS)
5. Conforto(LF)
6. Castellanos(RF)
7. Ramos(C)
8. McNeil/Frazier/Alonso(1B)
This would be a Championship caliber lineup.
megaj
That lineup doesn’t scare me at all
smytds
But that lineup paired with our starting pitching staff gives you nightmares
elscorchot
Not really
mikeyank55
Hey Megaj-the lineup doesn’t scare any real baseball fan, however Danny wet his pampers when he posted his lineup.
callingoutdummies247
Ha ha ha pampers!!!! Dude you win the internet
wright1970
and we already have the championship caliber starting rotation!!
mikeyank55
On paper you are correct wright. However this overused starting staff cannot come close to last year’s performance.
Wagon Wheel is cheer leading them hard. He’s enlisted Mets secret asset “TC” to work with the pitching staff in spring training.
He’s already recorded the YouTube video for camp. It’s named “MAN UP” and tells the pitchers to disregard the pain and do what real men do.
“TC” has a few inspirational tricks up his sleeve. Johan Santana will appears the first week and has a presentation called, ALL GAS—Pitching through pain no matter what”.
So Wright (not sure about your 1970’reference cause the Mets
mikeyank55
Have been terrible since 1986. Remember you can’t count “almosts”; only World Series championships are bragging rights. So you are coming up on your 4th decade of mediocrity.
MetsFanaticDanny
@mikeyank55
You talk a lot of you know what. You know what happens to bullies right, they get knocked down. I don’t need to talk crap, I let my hands to the talking for me. You name a time & place bro and you won’t be talking crap no more. Guaranteed. Back up your talk punk. You’re nothing but a little scared boy who wears his mommies panties. Unless you’re ready to throw hands bro, stop talking crap because I just put out a legitimate challenge, if you’re not man enough to step up, ALL your trash talk from this point on will be considered a joke. Bring it boy. I DARE YOU!!!
RedRooster
Whoa! Make way! Badass coming through!
CincyMariner
How about…
M. Smith CF
D. Gordon 2B
M. Machado SS
K. Seager 3B
M. Haniger RF
J. Bruce DH
D. Santana LF
D. Vogelbach 1B
O. Narvaez C
yourslacker
Ha ha that’s what I was thinking. They have the money to offer and he is only 26. 2-3 years to compete is the plan and he would be the cornerstone. He can move to third after they get Seager gone
andyb
Lol theres one championship caliber player in that lineup and its Machado. Dumb post, Mets think they are a small market team they arent signing machado
kleppy12
This lineup isn’t that great, they are at least 10 to 15 better lineups right now than that and if you were to add Machado to any team in baseball there are 15-20 teams with better lineups.
28rings
Cano and Machado back to back in the lineup = a lot of jogging to first base on home runs, walks, ground balls and pop ups.
BigFred
Dodgers.
Charlie benion
LF – pederson
CF – Bellinger
RF – Hernandez
3B – Turner/Freese
SS – Machado
2B – Seager
1B – Muncy
C – Martin/ Realmuto (wishful thinking )
abcrazy4dodgers
Can see him coming back to LA, but Seager isn’t moving off SS. It’d be Manny 3B, Seager SS, Muncy’s shaky glove at 2b, and Turner 1B.
YourDaddy
Didn’t help the Dodgers last season. Still tied the Rockies in the regular season. Didn’t help them in the playoffs. Still went home without a ring.
RedRooster
Rockies would have won the division outright if not for the Dodgers trading for Machado
YourDaddy
Machado had a 2.8 WAR as a Dodger. Corey Seager had a 5.6 WAR in 2017 and Taylor had a 2.6 WAR in 81 games at SS.
Machado was not that much of an upgrade. 0.2 WAR didn’t get them in the playoffs.
What did was Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig’s improved play in the 2nd half. What did was Ryu’s 1.88 ERA in the 2nd half and Buehler’s 2.03 ERA in the 2nd half and Alex Wood’s ERA dropping by 8 tenths of a point in the 2nd half and Rich Hill’s ERA dropping from 4.55 in the 1st half to 3.03 in the 2nd half.
Machado was a minor improvement. Those guys carried the heavy load in the 2nd half.
RedRooster
They all helped. But even with all that they still only tied Colorado. Without Machado it’s certainly possible they lost one extra game down the stretch and Colorado took the division.
TJECK109
Pirates… they will trade everyone else with a salary and expect Machado to fill every spot on the roster.
pantherfan73
The silent gm that the rumors never come from…
kenleyfornia2
No way. The mystery team is the highest bidder. That doesn’t at all sound too good to be true
stymeedone
Tigers. Mercer could move to utility role to open SS or Candelario moves to 1B to open 3B.
pantherfan73
They are known to makes trades ect. without it being known about until it actually happens.
tgovey
If there is a mystery team, I’ll call Brewers. They were the first team to pop into my head when I read this title.
dtrainriotmaker
My thoughts to . They need a 2b though so we will see
Justabit0utside
There’s not an icecles chance in hell that the Brewers are in on him. He showed his true colors in the NLCS when he cleated Aguilar, and took a cheap shot on Arcia at 2nd. Plus Stearns is way too smart to invest that kind of money in one player with a market like Milwaukee’s.
mikeyank55
Hey just-that makes Manny a perfect Met. Controversy and drama is part of their ethos.
Imagine this play (over and over): “Ball up the middle. Past Cano. Manny doesn’t dive. Basehit.”
We can call their DP combination the “Not me hustling duo”.
What do you think Danny?
callingoutdummies247
Now you say Ethos… man have you even been on a date? With a live girl Or guy and not a FaceTime date? Danny, I think he fancies you
augold5
Move Shaw to second again and Manny plays 3rd. Plus they shift so much it wouldn’t matter. Not that the Brewers have the financial flexibility to add a 25+ mil player
elscorchot
*too
CincyMariner
Yeah with the whole team hating him.
Crazytrain10
Why would the Mets go after him? Padres would be dumb to waste all that money after hosmer and Myers. Braves shouldn’t be in on machado unless they were gonna trade Dansby. They could actually use Harper. Just want these guys to sign so everyone can get on with the offseason.
mikeyank55
Hey Crazy-the Mets are not going after Manny. They are going through the motions to get fans to suck up and buy tickets so that the Coupons can steal more.
YourDaddy
That is hilarious. Do you really think that Swanson is someone that would start over Machado? The Padres have Hosmer and Myers and an $85 million payroll. They have $50 million in payroll flexibility.
Unclenolanrules
Ham Lions.
lord_xenu
I could see the Padres being in the mix. They have the need at 3B (assuming Manny is willing to move back to the hot corner) and are on the verge of breaking out. Bet they wish they hadn’t signed Hosmer now, though.
PhanaticDuck26
yup… as a phillies fan, i want Machado more than Harper, so im kinda glad SD wasted all that money on Hosmer, otherwise they would be seriously challenging philly for the top bid on Machado, IMHO
dellapple
Marlins! What a fit for south Florida.
Unclenolanrules
He’ll be able to rehab his knee every few months in the rising ocean.
Goose
Translation: Machado is pissed at the offer and his agent is trying not to get fired by hoping the White Sox up it.
WarrenSpahn
that’s a better theory than all the others here…
goldenmisfit
This is all a track by Mannys agent to get other teams to up their offer. Obviously the offers were not what they would have helped and make up these mystery teams that normally never exist to drive up the price. Obviously winning is not a priority it is only to take the highest offer which they will and Manny will be exiled to a team who will not make the playoffs at any time during his tenure there.
RedRooster
A mystery team just offered me 10/$400m with an opt-out after each year.
bobtillman
Don’t take it. It would ruin your affair with Jay-Lo…….
jekporkins
Crap. Okay, I offer redrooster 10/$450m with an opt-out every other week.
MartinH
I suspect his agent is the source of this report, to suggest nonexistent interest to drive up his value, particularly after earlier reports of disinterest. What better way to motivate bidders than to suggest there is a team, heretofore undisclosed, offering the highest bid?
anthonyd4412
“Mystery Team” the term sports media uses to up interest
Cuso
Texas Rangers, you heard it here first
mamss
mystery team thing always seems to be a gimmick. Fake news
srdiaz1972
It’s the Angels. Press conference to announce signing next Friday.
Braveslifer
The Braves are one in on Machado with Dansby Swanson as a trade candidate for a JT Realmuto trade.
harmoney101575
that makes alot of sense… braves have been so quiet… AA is soooo calm…. i can see him trying to get either machado or harper….
Harper makes more sense… but Machado would work especially with trading swanson for jt
Pax vobiscum
The Braves will have to bring a lot more to the table than Swanson for the Marlins to begin conversations.
Braveslifer
Swanson, Pache and lower prospect should do it. If needed, there is plenty of arms in the 10-20 slot that can be thrown in.
Pax vobiscum
You place little too much value on what Swanson is – a super utility player much like Freddy Galvis. Think more like starting with Touissant just to sit at a table with the Marlins.
holecamels35
I always bring Swanson to the table and it works just fine. Quality TV dinner, especially the meatloaf.
Colorado Red
a 2.3 war for Realmuto?
Get a life
Braveslifer
Swanson is merely part of the package, and why be rude? Were you raised that way or learn how to be rude because you can’t be punched in a comment section?
bhambrave
It wouldn’t shock me if AA signed Machado and he would definitely make the team better, but Manny goes against the vibe that the Braves Built last year. Signing Machado and trading Dansby is such a mercenary thing to do. The Braves would be better, but they’d be less fun to watch and root for.
dmcg89
If “mystery team” is real, my guess would be St. Louis.
heater
If mystery team is real a better guess would be any team except Baltimore.
coach him
There are no mystery teams. The issue is plain and simple. He’s lazy, getting heavier, and refuses to play 3rd. No one wants to take a 300 million dollar gamble on a guy like this for the years he wants. If the owners and players did this right, they would limit contracts at 5 years and have a max salary. it will never happen but it should because a 10 year deal at 300 million with opt outs for players only is crazy.
Strike Four
easily worst possible take in this thread, like come on man, he’s 26 and entering his prime. “Heavier”??? Who cares, he mashed all year – GTFO with this nonsense.
Also watch your tone calling Latino players “lazy” – its super racist.
ln13
But Machado is lazy.
stan lee the manly
No where in this post did he say “Latino players are lazy.” He said Machado is lazy. Machado himself said that he doesn’t hustle. Not one single mention of Machados race or any other members of the Latino race. You are pulling in race for no reason at all.
Tom S
Lazy is lazy. Not racist.
heater
It wasn’t racist at all. You just made that up. Shame on you.
fox471 Dave
Watch your tone Strike? Geez! Machado is lazy. Has nothing to do with his ethnicity moron. It has everything to do with his attitude. Watch your tone indeed.
Priggs89
So lazy that he made the majors as a 19 year old and just had the best offensive season of his career. What a bum.
He must be one of the most naturally talented players to ever play baseball.
czontixhldr
Here’s what some people, including some of the writers on this site who have stated they don’t understand the lack of interest in Harchado, don’t seem to process.
Manny: Yes, he’s a very good player and 26 years old, but he has publicly said he’s not Johnny Hustle. Yet he is asking MLB owners to pay him what is probably over $100MM well into the years of his decline assuming normal aging curves. So, he’s essentially told the owners he’s not willing to make up for his future inevitable decline in skills by putting forth a bit of extra effort in those years. What owner is going to want to make that kind if investment? IMHO only a foolish one. I suspect where Manny is concerned all his suitors have some trepidation about the years he wants.
Bryce: he’s also a very good player, but he’s missed a fair amount of time during his career to injury only averaging 132 games a season. Also, while I’m sure Boras is marketing the guy as a potential MVP based in the monster year in 2015, how do we know that’s not an outlier? MLBTR’s prediction of length of contract for him also seems a bit much given aging curves and his injury history.
Pay a high AAV, but if I’m an owner, I have to balk at the years these guys want, because anything over 7 – 8 years for either of them really is stupid money.
therealryan
I have a legitimate question for all of those in the camp of “7 year max for Machado or Harper.” Next year, when Arenado is a FA, is 4 years the max contract anyone should give him? Is any contract over 1-2 years a mistake for any player 30+?
CincyMariner
He has increased hard contact rate every year in the league.
Buschhog5
CARDINALS!! Goldschmidt 1B, Carpenter 2B, Dejong SS, Machado 3B
bourbon
Leave Carp at 3B, DeJong (to 2B) is the better middle infielder of the two. Machado to SS and Wong becomes the LH bench bat.
Daver520
Cincinnati Reds revealed to have offered 8yr/190M according to
Colorado Red
your butt.
supertrucker247
Who cares? This is getting soooo old
sfgiantsguy
WHO CARES!! JUST SIGN ALREADY!! IT’S MID JANUARY!!! YOU TOO BRYCE!!
Vizionaire
giants will sign him for 12-450. reports coming tomorrow.
T_Rexx2
Jeez…. I’m not even a giants fan and I really hope not… that would ruin baseball.
coach him
tonight at midnight there will be a story Harper close to signing but mystery team has come forward. All B.S. and not reason to even write a nonsense no validity story. same thing every day about nothing!
Strike Four
Hosmer signed his massive deal Feb 19, still a long way to go.
Also, as an aside, Hosmer is legit terrible and was never good even for a second, but no one talks about him like they do Heyward and Machado. Hey racists – don’t think you can hide your phobias under the guise of sports fandom.
Ejemp2006
No one talk of Hosmer because no one care about Padres. Worst earthquake on planet Mars does not get much press.
Race does not belong on this board. We see baseball, not skin color. Please stop your game start now. Troll?
T_Rexx2
I don’t think any of those players are terrible, but Hosmer is the worst of those 3. Machado is superstar level talent with a bad attitude, Hosmer is so inconsistent year to year you don’t know what he is, and Heywards bat has fallen off but he still plays great Defense. Idk why we have to bring race into this though…
Vanilla Good
Strike Four is Donald Trump. Calling everyone else racists when he’s the only one talking about race lol seriously dude you’ve gotta stop.
megaj
So we go from talking racism to political crap? Both of you stop.
Comrade Tipsy McStagger
That’s what she said, you pig.
Newspeaks
How do you go from “Hosmer sucks”, to “Theres racists in the here!”
The moment you stop bringing up race, the wars are nonexistent. Dont feed the party.
Comrade Tipsy McStagger
We could all stop talking about race. It doesn’t mean people won’t think about it. It doesn’t people won’t couch it in other terms. It doesn’t mean it isn’t systemic. I am sick of people who think if we just ignore racism, it will somehow go away. It won’t. And people who think that are racist. I could make a similar argument about class.
Can race be brought up at inappropriate times? Sure. Can it also get ignored when the issue is important? Yeah. Nothing is black and white.
impaler
Anytime the White Sox are involved the Angels Arturo Moreno is always nosing around.
Ackattack
“Arturo” lol
PhilliesFan012
The Flint Tropics
heater
Corn dogs are his signing bonus!
greatone14
Let’s go Bucs!
normanbates
Ahhh….the old “Mystery Team” tactic
beetlejuice
Minneapolis Lakers.
MetsFanaticDanny
It’s the Mets. If they were to sign Machado, they could essentially package Rosario with say Juan Lagares(to shed his salary), for a player like Nicholas Castellanos. This is just a speculative scenario but could you imagine Machado at SS with Castellanos & Conforto in the corner OF while Nimmo plays CF with Broxton the 4th OF. Just look at this lineup:
1. Nimmo(CF)
2. Lowrie(3B)
3. Cano(2B)
4. Machado(SS)
5. Conforto(LF)
6. Castellanos(RF)
7. Ramos(C)
8. McNeil/Frazier/Alonso(1B)
This would be a Championship caliber lineup.
jkoko
Mets can’t afford him
padam
$40M under the luxury tax. I’d say they can, however the question is do they want to…?
mikeyank55
Nice fantasy Danny. You may need to buy pampers in a larger size as you are dripping down your leg buddy!
As jkoko already told you the Mets can’t afford him. No matter how many cheap seat tickets that you buy, the Wilpon’s are content with a team that jerks you around enough to buy more tickets.
That’s the whole point of Mutt and Jeff’s baseball philosophy. You have been strung along enough. Now cough up your money. Include all of the spare change in your car’s cup holder.
Jerk around with make believe lineups ONLY if it will cause you to cough up more money. Mutt and Jeff have a big family and group of cronies who have big lifestyles and depend on your foolish spending.
For what it is worth, Fred’s brother in law, big mooch Sol has told front office personnel to invite you to an on field event because he thinks that your loyalty is “cute”.
callingoutdummies247
Mike has a fetish with men named Danny wearing pampers. Be careful, he’ll give you a good yank
BartoloHRball
Packaging Rosario + Gimenez for Bauer
deGrom
Syndergaard
Bauer
Wheeler
Matz
That’s arguably 3 #1 starters with Wheeler right there to make a case as a 4th (he out pitched deGrom post all-star break last year). Matz can be a #3/#4, which would give them the best rotation in the league.
CincyMariner
Because they need a third SS?
greatone14
Also everyone is forgetting he doesn’t want to play third he wants to play Shortstop. So guessing he’ll fill your teams spot at third is not the case
Priggs89
Or he wanted to play short to attempt to up his value before free agency. He’ll play wherever the highest bidder wants.
greatone14
A guy stating, “I’m a shortstop I want to play shortstop not third base” really doesn’t seem like a guy who just says that to up his value
Priggs89
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.
Rumncoke
Braves need short stop.
BravesCanada
Nah we good. Dansby plays better defensively and the rotation is an actual need, no overspending for a 3B to try and play SS
phantomofdb
Still waiting for the twins to pop up here…
More likely that there’s no actual mystery team
stratcrowder
Korea.
beetlejuice
If you put catching gear on Manny he’d look like Yadi Molina’s twin brother.
CaliWhiteSoxFan
Sounds like a correctional move. A report of 7/125 comes out so we’ll yank the wheel in the other direction by saying an unknown team has outbid everyone.
heater
One would think that almost every team would be in on him if 7/125 was the offer!
megaj
That would actually be a fair offer in a normal world
NCYankee
The Redskins, he has the arm and the kind of attitude Snyder loves!
Jimmie Foxx
Ah, the ever popular “mystery team”. Convienent, they make there precense known after Mannys market takes a financial nosedive.
Triteon
Ham Fighters!
Karlander
It’s fake news put out by the Machado camp to try to drive his price up. Especially after his agents remarks. This is bologna. The team that gives this jerk a ton of cash will be burned
canocorn
My girlfriend says a mystery team wants to marry her.
Gordon Lightfoot
… tell her you’ll marry her if you get an opt-out after year three.
cardsgoingyard
Dude this may be the best comment I’ve ever seen on here!!! Hilarious brotha
bradthebluefish
Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Giants, Padres, Phillies, White Sox… who else could it be?
CincyMariner
Mariners
Guest617
tampa bay rays
Dbacks44
Diamondbacks. They been glued to him since last year. He can play short. They have the money. They will trade Ahmed. Book it.
megaj
Why would they get rid of Goldschmidt just to get a lesser hitter for more money? On a side note, the uniforms of the D-backs are just atrocious, especially the road unis. They had the most awesome uniforms in history in 2001, not sure what happened.
RedRooster
Because they were going to lose Goldy to FA in a year anyway
Dbacks44
Dont be fooled by goldys numbers. I watch every game. He has a horrible first two months. Machado is younger and more exciting. Plus he plays short and will hit more hrs then goldy and more rbis. He will bat 315 with 36 hrs in that park. Plus they got something back for him
PinstripedPride
Machado was seen working out in a White Sox cap, but his father says the Dodgers made an offer…. and “the team we least think about” will sign him. Mix that in with all the misinformation that already has been printed about his free agency, and you have a cryptic new twist in this saga.
I still have my doubts that Manny would pick the lowly White Sox– especially not at that absurdly low price that was bandied about. Yankees infield is “too crowded” but Andujar could always get traded– not likely though. I don’t expect Machado in pinstripes now. Phillies are a big threat as always, but apparently their sights are now on Harper. I guess the Angels could always jump in, but not a word has been uttered pairing them with any top free agent this winter. It’s really hard to say what team is the frontrunner at this point.
Top suitors: Phillies, Dodgers, White Sox, Yankees, anyone else?
cards81
I could see the cardinals…let him play short and move Dejong to second…or he could play third and move carp to second but I see the first theory more likely…cardinals have the money and they always keep it hush hush
cardsgoingyard
If anything it would be Carp moving to 2nd, his best position, and convincing Machado to play 3b. I just hate to give up on Wong. That glove is dynamic and we need it up the middle with DeJong average to slightly above average at SS. BUT, if we could get a nice piece for Wong and a couple top prospects – Kluber, Thor, or another top guy – pull that trigger.
mikeyank55
NOT Yankees. We pass. Let the Mets sign him and suffer with two showboating players who enjoy being lazy.
Up the middle…..basehit….too bad because it looked so good.
cards81
I could see either way CGY but I just don’t think they would give up that much defense up the middle…carp is a corner guy imo…machado and Dejong would be a good/decent enough defense up the middle
czontixhldr
DeJong? yes/ Machado did not grade out very well last year up the middle. risky.
Priggs89
He did after getting traded…
czontixhldr
So you would sign a guy to a mega-contract based on 1/3 of a season of defense at a position?
cards81
Oh man…never did I mean that Machado would stay at short through his contract…eventually he goes back to third…in my scenario next year the cardinals resign Goldy Machado moves to third…Dejong back to short….carps option doesn’t get picked up and he no longer is on the team…or they don’t resign Goldy and Carps option is picked up and he goes back to first
czontixhldr
Fair enough.
goldenmisfit
Can not believe some people actually buy into this mystery team stuff. We hear mystery teams every single year about almost every single top free agent. How many times has a mystery team gotten that free agent? The answer would be none. Mystery teams or thought up by players agents to drive up there clients price.
CincyMariner
9I’d bet the Mariners are one of the two mystery teams.
1) Moved payroll and Segura when they didn’t have to move him.
2) They have a bunch of money falling off after 2019.
3) One of few teams to sign $200M+ contract to a player and not currently holding a $20M/year player on the roster after this year. Only other team in that category is Twins and horrible Marlins. Twins made exception for Hall of Fame local boy.
4) They need the positive spin from building around Latino after Lorena Martin debacle.
5) Are clearly buyers after Kikuchi deal of $110M and 7 year deal.
6) The team said they are fine breaking even each year and don’t care about taking payroll down if they can cover the cost, they always want to be break even which is around $170-180M, but could go up with superstar memorabilia. Many articles specify this.
7) Twam needs superstar with Diaz and Cano trade, Cruz free agency, and Haniger still geowing into his perennial all-star self.
megaj
Positive spin around Latino? Did you take a time machine back to the 1960’s? Half of baseball is Latino and dominating the game in case you didn’t notice, they don’t need any help. Statistics also prove that in 20 or so years, they will be the majority ethnicity in America.
CincyMariner
Yeah, my wife is from Peru and I have 1 stepson who is full Latino and 4 biological sons who are 1/2 Latino, I get that, but you are failing to see the point I make because you don’t pay attention to the Mariners directly and failed to do a simple google search of the name Lorena Martin, so I will share with you what is going on. In a nutshell, her claims have been found to be baseless, she is being counter-sued, and she is at risk of losing everything and her lawsuit is a last ditch resort of trying to keep her world from burning down around her. The lawsuit claimed the Mariners to be racist because their employee sucked at her job and was let go. Only after she couldn’t arbitrate a payout for the final two years of her deal with the Mariners and with a new book deal which discusses how amazingly she does her job (real problem when you in fact suck at your job), she decided to slander the front office calling them racists and talking about how they hated Latinos and specifically referred to Dominican and Cuban players as lazy. This signing would fly in direct contrast to her allegations and would not only include the hiring of a Dominican but one who has been roundly criticized as lazy specifically. Not to mention that for good show his wife is Cuban, the other segment of the Latino population for which the Mariners front office was said by Lorena Martin to dislike.
czontixhldr
This describes identity politics at it’s worst.
CincyMariner
Using big words you don’t understand doesnt make you smart, just a smarta$$
its_bigger
The Queens Metropolitans
kiddhoff
I find it hard to believe that only 3 or 4 teams are interested in these superstars. That’s why I’m still of the belief that Kimbrell will get $80mil+, Machado will get $300mil+, and Harper will get $350mil+. Are these guys worth it. Probably not. But when you factor in the potential revenue from adding these players, these big contracts are still going to favor the owners.
Pax vobiscum
Even “interested” teams don’t want to offer above 200 million for Machado. People might insist otherwise but the post-season may really have cost him some coin.
RedRooster
PSA: BORAS ISN’T MACHADO’S AGENT!!!!!!!!
beetlejuice
Manny will get an invitation to spring training with the Marlins.
Ejoey
Maybe it is Detroit. The ilitch family took on Ivan Rodriguez and Maglio when they were just starting out for what they could do later down the road
JPADA
You don’t know what your talking about. Tigers got Pudge towards the end of his career, he already played 13 years in the league before going to Detroit. Maggilo was a 3 time all-star and 8 year veteran before Detroit brought him in. .
nyy42
Portland Mavericks?
VegasSDfan
His agent, very few teams want him.
beetlejuice
Some of you people lust after this guy like he just finished a sweaty pole dance.
trace
This reeks #FakeNews doesn’t it?
Pax vobiscum
Mystery team=Dan Lozano’s imagination.
pustule bosey
rakuten golden eagles- book it!
Zerbs63
The Boras team…
bigmclargehuge
Astros – move Bregman to left and slide Manny in at 3rd. Then trade K. Tucker for Realmuto and watch the Astros average 10 runs a game. I just got chills…
osfandan
I thought I heard somewhere that Bregman was a better SS than Correa….so idk about shipping him out to LF.
ramonskee
I’ve been told that the mystery team is the IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO THE MYSTERY TEAM IS because these reports are all bullshit.
heater
Exactly.
Colorado Red
The Reds have decided to open the checkbook.
Z-A 2
Baltimore
jkoko
Machado seen taking cage hacks with Alonso wearing a white sox hat. That’s got to be a hint people, I mean why would he wear that??
CincyMariner
Probably free merch, to mess with people, or simply because he likes black and white to wear, but that doesn’t mean he’ll lose millions to play with his bro-in-law or to wear a specific color of jersey. Reality is that when they suck this year, the ChiSox are trading Alonso and Jay at the break anyways.
megaj
Probably a friend or relative filmed that. Just like Harper liked a comment about him going to LA or posting selfies with Bryant, etc. They are both egomaniacs who are not grounded in reality. I mean how could they not be? Look at how much power they have right now. Manny could blow his nose into an I LOVE NY handerchief and somebody will see it and speculate.
Priggs89
Because it’s a pretty dope hat.
arraezingstar
Twins
Or one of 28 other teams.
Jjbeach
AT LAST! Now we know why the Twins haven’t spent any real money yet—they’re front-loading a big Machado contract. And here, we al thought the Pohlads were just being more than their regular cheap.
Pops
Could be Twins actually. They signed Machado’s best friend Schoop. Those guys are really close.
Moneyballer
Wouldn’t be the worst way to spend Mauer’s Money but I’m extraoridinarily skeptical as this would historically be completely uncharacteristic of this franchise. They have the money and payroll space, do not see it happening.
tater48
machado and Harper is not worth the money they seek machado is a lazy dirty ball player who is seriously overrated and Harper is not that good
CincyMariner
Here is the thing, they are as sure a bet as there will ever be. If you get a Juan Soto for $500K, you still have to pay him $50M over first 6+ years. But you are also paying everyone developing the players and all the Marte and Wood players who are stuck as AAAA prospects making money to suck or quit. Developing and signing players is not cheap and signing a Harper and a Machado means 10 years of not worrying about that position to be filled in free agency or through promotion. It definitely hedges their bets on prospects and allows teams to trade prospects for cheaper alternatives to free agency.
refereemn77
He would be great fit for the Twins, and they have the salary space to get it done. Not sure Falvine would do it though, as they’ve said that pitching is really the focus right now.
John Egan
Giants… Zaidi’s first move… someone to build around
Slipknot37
Nice try trading away crawford and longoria. Machado is the better player, but no way San francisco is signing him unless they trade those contracts which would be a little difficult
Slipknot37
And by that, i mean either contract not both. Longoria still has four yeara left on his contract and is still owed a lot of money. Crawford has 3 years left. My problem with crawford is that not many teams need an older shortstop that is 32 in a week. Doubt the giants make a move for machado
Slipknot37
Half joking here, but marlins. To be honest, it seems silly for the padres to sign kinsler if they are the mystery team here. They have urias and tatis Jr also. I dont see it being the padres
Wolverines2
Kinsler will be a utility player by May regardless of if they sign someone. $8 million to Kinsler as a utility infielder is not the signal that Machado is impossible. Eric Hosmer’s contract is likely the signal that this signing is impossible.
jkr11a
Rangers had Beltre retire, traded their 3B in profit, and hired the Dodgers 3B coach to be their manager. I think they have to be considered as a mystery team. Have to convince him to survive the heat for 1 year until the new stadium is complete
joncoley
Red Sox being sneaky.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
I gotta get the “print whatever random BS agents feed you” job after Heyman retires.
“I don’t know what team it is, but I know they offered the most money.”
How would he know that? What RELIABLE source fed him that info?
Unless the mystery team called him with both an unlisted number and one of those voice disguisers they use on TV shows, it wasn’t the “mystery team”.
None of the known teams would call with this info, hurting their own leverage.
It’s clearly info that the Machado camp wants out there.
tealmarlin
There’s a photo going around of him wearing a White Sox cap taking batting practice. I think the other guy that was with him was Alonso.
NotBill
Lol – yup! The “mystery team” bid DOUBLE the White Sox offer. Manny is SUPER-considering it.
macstruts
Of, the fabricated mystery team to get the known teams to bid against themselves. GMs are smarter now.
Aj5258
What’s better for Manny than a mystery team? TWO mystery teams. Hell, may as well just leak that the Cubs and Yankees are in a bidding war.
All BS
ron cey
dont be a leaker. thats impeachable offense
Thurman8er
I was SO down on Machado during the WS. I hated the “hustle” comment and the dirty play with Aguilar. Funny how that changes.
I don’t know if the Angels will land him, but I’d bet real money they have the high offer right now. Arte hasn’t made a splash in a while…he needs to convince Trout that he wants to win…and he loves Latino players.
clrrogers 2
Just sign already.
megaj
Even if this were true, and not just more of the usual bs, who would it be? Not the Dodgers, they don’t appear to want him back. Not the Yankees, Phillies, or White Sox, they are not mysteries. Not the Astros or Indians, they are stacked on the infield. Not the Cubs (at least if you believe they are broke). Milwaukee or St. Louis could definitely do this in an effort to be the favorites in a tough division. Mets could be a fit, and maybe a consolation for Manny to play for the “other” NY team. The Padres could make it work by moving Kinsler to 3B and Urias to 2B, actually making them look quite formidable in a weaker division. Anything other than these 4 teams would be really surprising IMO.
mhaftman7
So these types of “reports” aggravate me. Earlier we had a report that the MLBPA is considering tactics to “inspire” teams to sign players earlier in the offseason and that it is unfair for the teams to put this much pressure on players to sign at the last minute in a “get what they can” effort that has been deemed potential collusion.
Yet, nothing is said by MLBPA about the premier FAs (Kimbrel/Harper/Machado) that annually set the market not only by holding up team plans, but generally set the going rate for your second tier FAs.
The MLBPA encourages players to get as much money as possible, and why shouldn’t they, but to have agents stalling and stalling to force teams to their demands is a big factor as to why these second tier guys a bit nervous. On top of that, teams don’t want to go past a certain number and the players they truly want drive up the cost making it so they HAVE to go with the less expensive rookie at a separate roster spot to offset the cost and still players complain about not being able to make money! Why is it okay for a player to make as much as possible, yet owners are greedy if they don’t spend, spend, spend?
When this CBA ends, there will be a strike and no one will be willing to admit fault. The MLBPA should ENCOURAGE agents to be aggressive in getting their clients signed as early as possible, not stall for a possible last minute “mystery team”. I get guys like Harper and Machado are generational talents, but man, it would’ve been great if the owners collided to NOT be held hostage in this waiting game and just skipped to the second tier guys, forcing the premier guys to settle on well undervalued contracts or even sit out. Fans are tired of this and baseball will lose even more fans than the last strike.
Mic drop
/rant
jakethesnizake
I’ve said all along that I thought the Red Sox are a mystery team if indeed there is a mystery team.
That said, I think this is all fluff.
muskie73
As long as we keep clicking on these stories MLB Trade Rumors will continue passing on unsubstantiated rumors.
And laughing to the bank.
You and I are to blame.
phxfriar
I could see AJ and ownership making a run at Manny. Yea, I can see the vision and how this move might be looked back on as the signing that turned the tides in San Diego and the NL West.
RedRooster
I thought the Hosmer signing and the Galvis trade were supposed to be the moves that did that.
phxfriar
I think that’s about right. Both of those veteran guys are/were part of the plan…next chapter comes in 2019 when we’ll see a jump-level of organizational success. Settle the infield and outfield rotations in 2019. Pitching is on it’s way…oh brother!
ray714
It’s the Dodgers
mj-2
Agree that it’s the Dodgers
Lol at all the Mets fans praying for a miracle. Classic Mets fan behavior
megaj
Dodgers part is right, but for Harper, not Machado. I really don’t why it has taken this long other than maybe they were still trying to work out a deal to get Realmuto first. Either way, Dodgers lineup is going to be stacked, especially if they get both Harper and Realmuto.
SLL
No, no, no! At least – I hope not!
Anyone but the Dodgers. I hope he signs with the Angels, or with the Giants, or with some other team that I don’t like.
snotrocket
Or maybe Jon Heyman is making stuff up. Imagine that.
Le Grande Orangerie
This is exactly the kind of post that deprives MLBTR of any credibility and has it branded as an agent ad sheet, where agents can circulate any ridiculous story. Not enough interest in Manny? Just write a story that says there are “mystery teams’ offering more money so the C’hiSox can compete with themselves.
megaj
Baseball is so broken when it comes to signing these FA’s. Has their ever been a strike where the owners are the ones striking? Can’t stand what Bryant was implying at the Cubs Convention today that something is really wrong, and “the players are really upset about this”, concerning why his friend Harper hasn’t signed (also irritating how many dimwitted fans and press were berating all the players and management with Harper questions) What if literally no team wanted or needed Machado or Harper? It is simple economics, their stock would fall dramatically and have to take less money. Why should someone be forced to pay outrageous prices for a long expensive contract they really don’t feel certain about?
megaj
Okay, which player or agent thumbs downed me? Lol
DjRed
It’s the Reds.
Castalini opening that wallet.
mistry gm
$51,440.00 an hour to play baseball and that’s if he plays every game… (and that hardly seems to match his value?) I really hope the team I’m rooting for doesn’t sign him. He doesn’t seem to have any respect for the game … that’s making him rich.
LarsLap
I got a feeling the Angels are the mystery team. They need to make a splash and try to keep Trout from making plans elsewhere.
Berischa
Back to Baltimore , haha..
Frisco500
Mystery team? Highest bidder? Moral of the story: Machados dad is as big a jackass as his son.
bobtillman
Machado’s grandfather said the “mystery team” was the Rays……but then grandpa often wears his underwear on the outside of his jeans…….
mets1536
Mets …. Don’t Think that Fred Wilpon is going to let BVW $PEND that kind of Money Plus …. Where the Hell would they play him they already-have 3 3B???
mikeyank55
Free is NOT happy with your post. Neither is Mutt. Your free wheeling posts are getting in the way of foolish Mets fans buying tickets.
Joeypower
Oakland for sure!
gatewaytothebest
I heard the Bloomington Barnswallows have the biggest offer on the table so far.
gorav114
Obviously the Orioles
sluman46953
when is the derby over ???
ccsilvia
Ugh. This guy and his amateur, clowntown agent.
It’s been apparent since the middle of last season (if not well before, that was just when the official declaration came) that he desperately wants to play for the Yankees. Cashman, under Hal and Hank’s directives at least, isn’t going to go close to what he wants, and they damn well shouldn’t.
MLB revenue is on the decline. These guys who think they’re worth 30-40 million a year are out of their heads, and the agents telling them that it’s anything remotely resembling 5-10 years ago should be fired out of hand. Our entire economy is about to collapse again (and everyone in the financial sphere knows it) but that’s a different, although of course entirely related, conversation.
Machado, and his representation, are honestly beginning to embarrass themselves at this point. We all know the three teams involved, and what they’re willing to pay is more than reasonable.
Don’t even get me going on Harper or Kimbrel, despite everything I’ve just said Machado’s still the best bet of that trio.
@DaOldDerbyBastard
gstatic.com/tv/thumb/v22vodart/3589823/p3589823_v_…
tbone0816
CARDINALS!!
goldenspikes19
As a Padre fan I can dream, but I am surprised, nobody on here has mentioned
The SF Giants
megaj
Way more likely to fit with Padres than SF, so keep the dream alive
gmenfan
To play 2nd in SF ?
Vizionaire
i have, was a joke, though.
antsmith7
Taking the biggest bag
ron cey
if halos can lock in mike first. dump albert. make him hutting coach. could sign machado then.
padam
Expos.
ccsilvia
It’s going to be one of the 3 teams already mentioned.
Think about it logically: the “mystery team” isn’t where he wants to go, but they’re offering the most money, and he will take the absolute largest contract offered. That’s what’s being reported.
How will that look? If the “mystery team” does exist (aka a team that hasn’t been yet mentioned) and he signs there, everyone will know that he didn’t want to play for that team/city and he strictly went there for the money. Not exactly the optics a team wants for their premiere acquisition/huge offseason expenditure at the spring presser.
Don’t buy it. More amateur clowntown garbage from his Chuck E Cheese agent.
gmenfan
Sounds pretty Machadoesque, however.
ccsilvia
You’re not wrong. Guy might be one of the greatest athletes in the world but he just can’t get out of his own way, and no one has ever told him to just shut up, hit the ball, and cash the check haha
B-Twice
It wouldnt surpise me if its the Twins. No money on the books next year.
Sky14
The Twins should be involved, they have the budget and need but I doubt it. Their front office has said they plan to add an arm and call it an off-season.
TwinCities
That is exactly the thing that a front office wishing to remain anonymous would claim. They could outbid all the others, if they chose to. I’m sure they are taking a hard look at it. I hope they pass though, because it would hamstring the small-mid market team worse than the Mauer contract. Not much a Machado fan, either. He ain’t Minnesota Nice.
gmenfan
Machado sign with mystery team for $175,000,001.
billysbballz
Mets are that mystery team peeps! Fact! But they aren’t offering what the white Sox are. They are trying to get Manny at a lower offer to justify it and get the fan base all psyched! They are not budging on there offer.
dematteo1982
A team like the Twins makes perfect sense. The division…currently ruled by the Indians, they haven’t done much at all except slash payroll with no truly significant additions. Minnesota has quietly made a few adds that if they were to be the highest bidder for Machado..they can without a doubt challenge Cleveland. I believe the Twins have $0 on the current payroll for the 2021? Or 2022? Season. They could conceivably sign Machado, Harper, Kuechel and Kimbral rather comfortably. I’m just talking ish..bit plausible if you truly think about it.
The team I actually think it is….
(Wish it was the Mets)
San Diego.
Another team that outside of Hosmer…no committed dollars at all in a few seasons.
It would accelerate the rebuild..keep the farm system in tact.. (although Kluber and Kluber could both be had…even trading 2 top 100’s in each deal..still leaves them with 5 or 6 still in the system)
Atlanta could do both as well…use $$ and prospects.They have been relatively quiet thus far and a Machado signing (Kuechel and Pollack if they feel the need to spend in place of Machado)
Time will tell…i just feel that the White Sox are going to open the vault..and I think it would be the right move…sign the ace for the staff next year…(Bring Sale back..Cole..or Bumgarner…)Arrenado for 3B? The next couple of years free agency is going to be interesting
Samuel
lol
The Twins have declining attendance and one good pitcher.
But perhaps you’re correct. Manny can put the team on his back – if he feels like it – and single-handedly lead them to the playoffs…….and beyond….after all, the man is a SUPERSTAR. You know, like he carried the Orioles the last 3 years.
bbcued
LMAO… mystery team… AKA agent leaking false info to improve offers
ron cey
medford moles or the portland snowflakes
keepinthafaithsd1
Its padres AJ n co. always checks in on last min deals.
ron cey
the Bandon Snowy Plovers or the Huntingting Beach Seagulls
bhambrave
Montgomery Biscuits.
silverrose
Ozuna Machado…ain’t no passing craaaayze
ripcookies
I said it about 6 weeks ago and got blasted. But I’m going to do it again. And btw I am a Yankees fan.
David Dombrowski and the Red Sox are mystery team. He loves buying players and loves paying luxury tax.
My idea six weeks ago was they sign Machado. Move Bogaerts (+) for Realmuto.
Read it here first!
Rex Block
There is no mystery team. It’s all devilry.
Samuel
Did anyone check on Mr. Martino?
In addition to pushing the Yankees being in on Manny, he’s also pushing that the Yankees are trying to trade for Nolan Arenado, with Miguel Andujar the big piece back.
Now you ask – why would the Yankees give up a 3B with 5 years of control, to get a 3B in his walk year? Easy! They’re going to negotiate an extension (OK, maybe a name free agent has never signed a long-term extension with a team he’s been traded to a year before hitting the market…..but……). Now he knows that GM’s Cashman and Bridich have talked. He doesn’t know about what, but – “Arenado’s future in Colorado is highly uncertain.” So there you have it – “The Smoking Gun”.
This guy is a rumor monger on steroids.
Rex Block
The Springfield Isotopes.
goldenmisfit
Anyone who thinks for one second it is the twins or the METS I am begging you get drug tested. The twins have never signed anyone for even half of what he wants and as far as the coupons are concerned they have already publicly said they are tapped out as far as money to spend this off-season this is just wishful thinking on part of their fans.
warwhatisitgoodfor
This must be the type of middle infield help Dipoto was referring to
remember 108
Brewers, no way. Need starting pitching.
⚾The Heater from Van Meter⚾
The Colorado Rockies. Story to 2b.
junkmale
The Marlins.
Philliesfan4life
Angels • Padres • Mets
Mike's Trout
Definitely think the Padres are in. I hope it’s the Angels tho. I say 5/150 is the current offer.
Steve Phillips
Sounds alot like those sneaky quiet Angels. Might be just the thing to make them playoff bound
Philliesfan4life
I think It could be the angels, Macahdo & Pujols have the same agent. The angels came out of nowhere in 2011 when they signed Pujols, they were the big mystery team. So what if history repeats itself. But I would rather sign Keuchel.
Comrade Tipsy McStagger
I am guessing he is going to be signed as the new vocalist for the Jesus Lizard.
ck420
The infamous mystery team lol
dust44
NOT a mystery team… His dad tweeted the Dodgers made an offer
Philliesfan4life
That would be really stupid , What they gonna do trade Turner or move him to first? And then put Machado at third. I honestly think it’s the angels. Pujols & Machado have the same agent, and the angels came out of nowhere when they signed him
Steve Phillips
I’m thinking Angels, the Dodgers are loaded with infielders. Unless they trade Turner for a starter in Cleveland?
Philliesfan4life
Turner won’t bring back much unless they include Verdugo in the trade. But I think the angels make perfect sense. They always come in out of nowhere.
restingmitchface
Pretty good chance that’s just misdirection on his dad’s part.
david letterman
A’s
scottaz
Blatant use of the media, in this case MLBTR, to get as much money as possible. Sending signals to contenders that he isn’t giving a discount to anyone, just selling out to the highest bidder. Disgusting, but that’s state of the art in MLB.
czontixhldr
I have no issue with the players trying to get as much as they can. The teams have the money to pay them.
But under the current CBA things are skewed right now because more analytically oriented FO’s have finally realized that the long term deals they have given out in the past seem to hurt more in the long term than they help in the short term.
You don’t need to look past this list of the highest paid players – legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/le… – to realize that there is a lot of money there that was and/or still is just dead.
Negotiating the next CBA is going to be a doozy, and while I hope I’m wrong, I see a labor stoppage coming.
paulkauffmann
The owners wouldn’t think for a second before dumping a salary all I’m trying to say is owners started the John salaries
Bubba 5
Toledo Mud Hens. Scott Boras move just by another agent. Here is some news. NOBODY CARES.
twinsguy69
Twins?
Tristan Gilbert
My thoughts exactly
dawson0701
Cards
TheBoatmen
Jays are the mystery team. Machado will go where ever the money is. Jays have the money and need for a SS. Nope not going to happen.
Moonlight Graham
The Jays are my choice, too. The Angels make some sense, but they though need pitching a lot more than offense. (Then again, the same could be said of the Jays.)
The Mets only make sense from the view that the Mets always make bad moves, and thus they would trade away from Rosario to make room for Machado—only to see Rosario grow into a perennial all-star.
Coming back to the Jays, pairing Machado with Vlad Jr. would generate tremendous excitement and likely a lot of runs. Plus, the Jays appear to have some space in their payroll to make it happen.
Jimmie Foxx
Machado had alot off peer leadership in Baltimore. JJ Hardy, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis are three that come to mind. Buck ran a tight ship and the Orioles never had any public issues in the locker room. Yet Manny still found ways to stand out. Mannys insistence to play SS and putting himself before the team was one of the last straws for fans. Him not showing up for f’n fest was the last however. Manny has a ton of talent, but for the most part…fans don’t miss him…atleast his attitude.
Jimmie Foxx
Not sure how my comment response ended up here.
Moneyballer
“That other teams would quietly help drive the bidding” – wow. That is a dangerous game to play right there.
urnuts
Angels. It is their M.O. and after chasing Corbin and other high price pitching makes sense to try to hit their way to the playoffs. Plus safety net if Trout leaves. 6 years $190 million or 7 $210. And adding him the team would still be under salary tax with quite a bit coming off the books next year with all the one year deals and Calhoun contract expiring allowing a run for SP next year.
PinstripedPride
Wouldn’t surprise me. The Angels are not exactly small-market and they are desperate to be playoff contenders again. Trout may leave in a couple years, meaning they have to take advantage of this opportunity. Billy Eppler was the assistant GM to Cashman for several years, so he kinda knows how Cashman quietly does business, swooping in to make a large splash before people hardly know what happened. If Machado goes to the Angels, I will not be shocked.
Padres r knocking on the door
I hope it’s not the Padres. I think the attitude he demonstrated during the playoffs far outweighs his talent with all the prospects that will be coming up.
kroeg49
Just an attempt to drive up the price. I doubt there’s more than one or two teams willing to go 10/300 for Manny.
Juggy
Breaking News Morosi just reported that the mystery team got their man.Manny Machado just signed a 14 year deal worth 500 million with the Bad News Bears Wow didn’t see that coming
28rings
“mystery team” = an agents’s way of trying to get the teams that have bid already to increase their offer… similar to a professional heel wrestler from “parts unknown” – they know where he’s from but they don’t want to accidentally get people cheering for him who are also from the same city, state or country. plus it sounds cool.
68tigers84
Tigers,Tigers,Tigers!! If they figure Miggy is back 100 percent they might. With salary clearing soon, might be a good move. Candelario,Castellanos,Miggy. Manchado, Hicks, Stewart.
22Leo
Mystery? This sounds like a job for Scooby and the gang. And Machado’s agent would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling kids!
adc6r
Jinkies!!!