New York Yankees: Machado won’t sport pinstripes next season
Nothing would delight New York Yankees fans more this holiday season than to see Manny Machado join the club in the Bronx. However, it looks like the franchise third baseman will stay put until next season.
Manny Machado will play multiple games at Yankee Stadium next year. However, he won’t be donning a New York Yankees jersey.
The third baseman became target number one for many teams after the Baltimore Orioles deemed the franchise player available. New York is apparently interested in Machado, as the team has a hole at third base and the pieces to bring him in.
But for various reasons, the Yankees will surely pass – for now.
Money matters more than just about anything at this point of the year, and the team just gobbled up Giancarlo Stanton’s mammoth contract. Machado only has one year left on his current contract. By next season, he will ask for a gargantuan deal or at least an expensive extension.
If New York truly wants Machado, they will probably just wait until next offseason. The Yankees aren’t in dire need of a third baseman, with Miguel Andujar as their primary option. And the club may have more cap space by that time, with an Ellsbury deal in the works.
Baltimore likely asked every interested team for the farm. For New York, giving up more than one top prospect wouldn’t be worth it. Gleyber Torres is a step away from the big leagues as well, someone that could potentially be as good as Machado in a few years.
The Orioles also expect to compete in the upcoming season. How they plan on doing so remains a mystery, but manager Buck Showalter has conjured up miracles before.
However, if Baltimore still has won in mind, New York would have to relinquish even more. Machado’s absence would put a significant dent in the Orioles’ playoff chances next year. Thus, if they are committed to dealing their best player, they want to ensure they get the most out of it.
The idea that they wouldn’t deal Machado to the Yankees or another AL East rival is nothing more than a myth. Almost any team would sell their best player if they received an elaborate haul in return.
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Unfortunately for Baltimore, New York is in the driver’s seat, considering that it has a plethora of opportunities in the minor leagues.
Machado may be worth a handful of them, but the Yankees are already one of the favorites in the AL.
The third baseman isn’t a necessity for them.
New York’s narrative could change following next season.
The lineup could include Andujar and Torres by then, but apparently, the front office would rather have Machado than Andujar.
Yet, all of these variables will still be in play by then. The state of the organization’s farm system, salary cap and competitiveness will determine whether the Yankees push hard for him or not.
Next: Yankees add even more international stars to the organization
Anything can happen, especially with Cashman, but it looks like the top-20 player is going to stick around Camden Yards for now.