Yankees: Players weigh in on where Manny Machado should sign

Everyone has a thought or opinion on where Manny Machado should sign this offseason. On Thursday, both Marcus Stroman and Yankees starter, J.A. Happ spoke their piece.

Now that J.A. Happ is officially back with the Yankees for two years, $34 million, plus a vesting option of $17 million in 2021, should he reach 165 innings or 27 starts in 2020; the 36-year-old left-hander wants free agent Manny Machado to join him in pinstripes.

The first-time All-Star in 2018, Happ, told the AP that getting a player of Machado’s ilk, “would be exciting.”

Naturally, having a two-time Gold Glove winner playing behind the ground-ball inducing Happ makes total sense. Throw in the fact that the Yanks could use some of Machado’s .297 BA, 37 home runs and 107 RBIs last season, to offset the loss of Didi Gregorius’ production — and well, signing the 26-year-old four-time All-Star seems like a slam dunk.

Toronto Blue Jays starter, and Long Island-native, Marcus Stroman, believes that to be the truth as well.

More from Yankees News

• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• Michael Kay’s Anthony Volpe story will get Yankees fans amped for Opening Day
• No, Yankees should not acquire Trevor Bauer for 2023
• Yankees’ Marwin González replaces Red Sox LF in Japan in logical next step
• Blue Jays overpaying for Yankees trade target shows they’re trying too hard

On Thursday, Stroman released a barrage of tweets explaining his thoughts on why he feels Machado will return to the AL East with the Yanks.

"Machado is going to the Yankees. Yankees go out and get everyone. Red Sox are lethal. Rays are dangerous. Can never sleep on the Orioles. I’m going to the gym. Gonna be in my zone all year. Excited to compete in the best division in baseball!"

I agree with everything Stroman said, except for the part about sleeping on the Orioles. My man, you can literally hibernate on the O’s. Coming off a league-worst 47-115 record (61 GB), the Orioles are going to be bad for a very long time.

Stroman, the 27-year-old right-hander, later clarified his comments, saying:

"Just my opinion on Manny going to the Yankees. No insider info. Preparing to see Judge, Harper, Machado, Stanton, Sanchez, Hicks, Gleyber, etc."

Wait, did he also mention Bryce Harper?

Perhaps this is just Stroman’s plea to get out of Toronto. After all, with the Blue Jays undergoing their own rebuild, and his name being mentioned as a possible trade candidate, maybe Stroman’s trying to tell the universe he’d rather pitch for the Yanks and not against them.