With just seven days left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, Manny Machado still doesn’t have a team. Is it time for his camp to consider a 1-year deal?
On Monday, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman floated around the idea that given the depressed market on Manny Machado, perhaps the 26-year-old SS/3B should consider taking a 1-year deal.
At one point this offseason, Machado’s camp were said to want Giancarlo Stanton money, but according to the most recent reports, his offers have maxed out at 7-year, $175M. That’s a far cry from Stanton’s 13-year, $325 deal.
If Chisox offer to Machado really is 175M, that’s 150M-plus less than asking price. Multiple sources say his agent at different times has asked teams to “top Stanton.” Giancarlo deal was 325M. Quite a gap.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 16, 2019
So, why does it make sense for Machado to consider a 1-year deal this offseason?
First, next year, the free agent market will be more competitive for Manny Machado, thus potentially creating more competition. Competition can potentially drive up the price. With Didi Gregorius, Xander Bogaerts, Nolan Arenado, Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson to become free agents in time for 2020, Machado still has his age in his favor, and quite frankly performance.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
- Josh Donaldson (33) – .375 wOBA | 140 wRC+ | 36.5 fWAR
- Manny Machado (26) – .349 wOBA | 120 wRC+ | 30.2 fWAR
- Anthonoy Rendon (28) – .357 wOBA | 123 wRC+ | 25.9 fWAR
- Nolan Arenado (27) – .372 wOBA | 118 wRC+ | 25.3 fWAR
- Xander Bogaerts (26) – .334 wOBA | 106 wRC+ | 17.6 fWAR
- Didi Gregorius (28) – .320 wOBA | 99 wRC+ | 16.3 fWAR
Not to mention Machado’s defensive metrics. If he weren’t so adamant about moving to SS last season, he might be the best defensive 3B in baseball.
Taking a 1-year deal would provide Machado with yet another opportunity to prove his worth to MLB teams.
Secondly, it may potentially provide Manny Machado with a chance to break the AAV record. Currently set at a little over $34M, Machado could demand 1-year, $35M for his services this season. Then, as Sherman outlined in his piece, if all Machado gets is the same 7-years, $175M offer next season, he would actually have made $210M over 8-years.
Finally, Machado would be given the chance to prove that he’s not trouble.
Many teams feel that after his actions on and off the field during the 2018 postseason, adding Machado to their team could potentially bring unwanted negative heat and bad press to their organization.
Manny Machado can take this one year to prove that he can hustle, that he can do what’s best for his team and that his talents, quite frankly, would be a tremendous asset to any team in MLB.
It’s crazy to think that prior to the start of this offseason, many were expecting to see not one, but two potential record-breaking contracts. Now, we’re talking about 1-year deals for one of the best infielders in the game.
When it comes to free agency, baseball is broken. Perhaps Rob Manfred and the MLBPA should also take this year to figure this all out. If they don’t, they’re staring at another damaging strike come 2021, which could potentially tank the game for good.