Manny Machado: Decision Coming Within a Week According to Reports

On Wednesday, reports began to flutter that Manny Machado would be making a decision within a week. Where will the 26-year old IF take his talents to?

Manny Machado has been the talk of baseball for the entire offseason. Now, with a little over 5-weeks remaining before spring training, it seems the star IF is finally ready to make a decision.

According to Bruce Levine of 670 Sports in Chicago, “Manny Machado is believed to be nearing a decision this week,” and the White Sox appear to have the edge.

After trading for Machado’s brother-in-law, Yonder Alonso, earlier this offseason, and then signing close friend Jon Jay, many began to speculate that the White Sox were making moves to entice Machado to take his talents to the South Side of Chicago.

Alonso , however, is only under contract for two more seasons, and Jay was only a given one year deal, so I’m not sure that a guy like Machado would make a long term commitment to an organization solely on their willingness to obtain his associates short term.

At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to two things:

1. How competitive will the team he signs with will be
2. How much money is the organization willing give

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Unfortunately for Chicago, they’re not the only team in a position to offer Machado a big contract, and even worse for Chi-Town is that the Sox aren’t expected to be very competitive for another year or two.

Enter the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees. Both teams with money to spend and ready to compete right now.

The Phillies have probably been the most aggressive team in the Manny Machado sweepstakes, and after already making the star IF an offer, are reportedly ready to make him a second offer. What’s more is that the Phillies are also still in on Bryce Harper too, which would make them the MLB’s version of a super team.

Unfortunately for Philly, however, both Machado and Harper don’t particularly want to go to Philadelphia, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and prefer to go to New York.

The Yankees, who Manny Machado reportedly favors, have been quietly having a decent offseason. However, while many rumors have floated around that Manny’s wife is “enamored” with NYC, there is no indication that the Yankees have even offered Machado a deal… yet.

Don’t be fooled by the Yankees, we have seen them operate like thieves in the night in the past (i.e. dealing for A-Rod after the Red Sox were unable to successfully restructure hist contract), perhaps they’re just waiting to see what the market is for Manny Machado before striking an offer.

Finally, all we can do as fans is await the decision, and hopefully Mr. Levine is correct and it will come sooner rather than later.