Baltimore Orioles could have signed Manny Machado to long term deal

The Baltimore Orioles did not have to trade Manny Machado. For less than a million dollars, they reportedly had a chance to extend him years ago.

It would have made sense for the Baltimore Orioles to pursue a long term extension with Manny Machado. Even as a rookie, he established himself as a future star, a player that the Orioles could build their franchise around. Instead, they went year to year with the prized infielder, eventually trading him just after the All Star Game this past July.

However, it did not need to be that way. According to Jon Heyman, the Orioles had a chance to extend Machado before he had reached arbitration eligibility. They had reportedly offered Machado an eight year deal worth $64 million, a price tag that would have been a record breaking deal at the time.

That offer was almost enough to get Machado to sign. However, his representation wanted a bit more. Specifically, his agent, Dan Lorenzen, was looking for a specific number, saying that any deal “has to start with a 7.”

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If that is the case, and Machado was willing to sign for at least $70 million, the Orioles made a dramatic miscalculation. For less than an additional $1 million per year, they could have kept Machado in town, locking in one of the best players in the game today.

Even if that number was on the far end of the spectrum, and Machado sought $79 million, the difference was not that far. That amount would have been approximately $2.5 million, which is not a drastic sum. Nonetheless, the Orioles balked, and did not start discussions again until after Machado had injured his knee in 2014. By that time, the difference in salary demands made it impossible to work out an extension.

In retrospect, that was a positive for Machado. He is set to enter free agency as the most coveted player on the market, a shortstop/third baseman with stellar power. A true five tool talent, he will only be 26 years old during this foray into free agency, with his hypothetical prime years before him. That contract he will get will end up dwarfing the extension that never came to pass.

Meanwhile, this was a grave miscalculation for the Orioles. While there is inherent risk in signing any young player to a long term extension (see Jon Singleton) some players are worth taking that chance. Machado had already become an All Star, and led the AL in doubles at just 20 years old. Surely those expected improvements would have been worth coming to a compromise on an extension.

In the end, the Baltimore Orioles missed their chance to lock in Manny Machado. Meanwhile, Machado is set to cash in, making far more than he would have if he signed that contract.