Call to the pen
Fansided

4 reasons the Miami Marlins could get Manny Machado

By Sean Millerick

SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres speaks to the crowd during the San Diego Padres Fan Fest at PETCO Park on February 4, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres speaks to the crowd during the San Diego Padres Fan Fest at PETCO Park on February 4, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

The Miami Marlins could let Manny Machado pick his position  

Unlike some of the other teams in the running, the Miami Marlins could afford to actually give him his pick on the left side of the infield. That’s right, Machado could end up playing either third base or shortstop in Miami.

Such is the benefit of doing nothing this offseason but signing second basemen.

There’s no incumbent star that would be in the way at either spot on the MLB roster. Whoever is retained for 2024 out of Miami’s glut of infielders all have a bit of a super utility feel to them. They can be moved to other positions as needed. As for up and coming talent in the minors, there is no one to worry about blocking at third. Top offensive prospect Jacob Berry is a very, very bat first player, and almost a lock for becoming a permanent DH. The shortstop talent is more promising, but it also isn’t Machado.

If Machado fancies making another run at playing short, Miami can offer him that chance. That’s something few other contenders would be in a position to easily do.

The Marlins can make him their sole target 

Lastly, and most importantly, the Miami Marlins can ignore every other prize of the 2023-2024 free agent market.

If you squint, I suppose you could see a universe in which the Marlins make Machado an offer close to the $300 million range he’ll be seeking. But there’s not a realm in the multiverse where the Marlins will offer Shohei Ohtani the $400 to $500 million it will take to get him to sign the dotted line. Speaking of excellent pitchers, that’s exactly what the rest of the prizes on the market are. The Marlins have plenty of above average pitching talent already, with more in the minors.

Which means they can go all out on Machado from day one. He’d be Miami’s entire offseason, whereas most of the other teams gunning for him might have divided attention. That kind of aggressive courtship could make the difference.

Of course, there is really only one scenario where Machado ever wears a Marlins uniform…

Home/Miami Marlins