Yankees still haven’t made a formal offer to Manny Machado

We’re just two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training and superstar free agent Manny Machado still hasn’t signed with a new team. The Yankees met with Machado earlier this offseason, but according to reports they still haven’t made him a formal offer.

Entering this offseason we all heard that it was going to take a while for Machado and fellow star free agent Bryce Harper to sign new deals. However, I don’t think the Yankees or anyone else expected them to take this long to make up their minds.

I don’t really blame them because their agents are going to take as long as they can until they get their clients the deals they want but it is somewhat ridiculous. It’s also ridiculous that in addition to Machado and Harper there are over 100 more free agents still unsigned.

The Yankees looked like one of the favorites to sign Machado when the offseason began but it seems like they could be done making any more splashy additions. They’ve already upgraded their rotation and their bullpen and they signed D.J. LeMahieu and Troy Tulowitzki to help shore up their middle infield in the absence of Didi Gregorius.

There really isn’t a need for Machado on this roster so unless his asking price tag drops down to a number the Yankees are comfortable offering I don’t think we’ll see him in pinstripes next season. If he’s gone this long without signing then he’s going to end up signing with whoever offers him the most money and we can pretty much guarantee New York won’t be that team.

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Wallace Matthews of the New York Daily News was the writer who reported the Yankees haven’t made an offer. He added that the team is already $7 million over the luxury tax threshold and appear to be serious about not wanting to commit big bucks to either Machado or Harper.

One more move they could make Matthews says is adding a low-cost sixth starter because of the injury concerns with CC Sabathia who is just over a month removed from emergency heart surgery. CC has resumed working out and should be ready to go for camp in two weeks, but he probably not a guy the Yanks can rely on to stay healthy over the course of a full season.

The Yankees also have some sixth starter options at Triple-A in Domingo German, and prospects Chance Adams, and Jonathan Loaisiga. Although German could start the season in the bullpen with the big league club and Adams and Loaisiga might need more time to develop as starters.