Yankees: Are they out of the Manny Machado sweepstakes?

We’re already a week into 2019 and superstar free agent Manny Machado has yet to sign with a new team. All offseason, the Yankees have been looked at as the favorites to land Machado but it remains to be seen whether or not they’d be willing to offer him the mega deal he’s looking for.

While it’s anyone’s guess right now as to where Machado will sign one thing we do know is that it will either be with the Yankees, Phillies or White Sox. No other teams have been reported to be in the mix even though Machado is arguably the best player still available on the free agent market.

Multiple reports have said Machado prefers to play for the Yankees but as is the case with most free agents, he’s probably going to sign with the team who offers him the most money. Based on how the Yankees front office has been hesitant to go over the luxury tax threshold in recent years they’re probably not going to be the team who offers Machado the biggest contract.

Sure they could offer him a deal for fewer years with a higher average annual value but there’s no way they’re going to offer him a contract of any more than seven years. Simply put, if Machado wants to be a Yankee it’s going to be on their terms. Along with fellow star free agent Bryce Harper, it’s believed that Machado is looking for a 10-year contract worth over $300 million. I don’t know if the Phillies or White Sox will be willing to make that kind of long-term commitment but they certainly have the money to do so. They also each need Machado way more than the Yankees do.

Although we don’t know the kind of offers Machado has received up to this point, Chicago and Philly have been much more aggressive in their pursuit, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. That has some wondering whether the Yankees are out on the 4x All-Star.

Until Machado signs with another team, it’s hard to believe the Yankees are out, however, it wouldn’t surprise me if they have no intention of offering him a contract of over $200 million. The Yankees no better than any franchise the risk that comes with signing a free agent to a deal in that price range because they never really live up to expectations for the entirety of the contract.

Granted, Machado’s situation is a little different because he’s only 26 and in the prime of his career. He’s going to produce huge numbers for the majority of his next contract wherever he ends up but that doesn’t take into account the character issues he’s displayed throughout his young career. Machado has been labeled a dirty player who doesn’t hustle. A terrible combination, especially for someone who wants to play under the bright lights of New York City.

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Then there’s the fact that the Yankees recently signed Troy Tulowitzki to be their starting shortstop in the absence of Didi Gregorius to begin next season. They also already have a star in the making at third base in Miguel Andujar. Earlier this offseason there were rumors that the Yanks might trade Andujar for an ace, but after trading for James Paxton and re-signing J.A. Happ it’s not a pressing need to add another starter to their rotation.

I’m one Yankees fan who hopes they get outbid and lose out on Machado because I don’t think they need him nor should they commit to him long term. They have so many budding stars on the roster who they’re going to have to lock up in the coming years that they’d be better off spending their money on. They also might attempt to extend Aaron Hicks, Dellin Betances, and Didi and if they can’t they’ll try to re-sign them next offseason.

It’s not my money to spend, but if the Yankees want to keep this young core that’s helped them become perennial contenders intact they need be smart about how they spend their money over the next couple of seasons.

Even though they’ll be without Didi for the majority of 2019, the Yanks have already made enough additions this offseason to put themselves in a better position to contend then they did a season ago. I know Machado could very well be the missing piece that helps them get over the hump, but the roster as it’s currently constructed is good enough to win #28.