San Diego Padres star Manny Machado has spent four very productive seasons with the franchise, and is getting ready for a fifth.
After that, however, he will explore his options in the open market.
He might re-sign with the Padres if they show him the money, but is just as likely to go elsewhere considering he is an MVP candidate who can contribute on both offense and defense.
That type of player went for about $300 million in free agency this offseason.
Machado would have five years and $150 million remaining on his deal after 2023, but is very likely to get something close to $300 million as a 31-year-old free agent in his prime.
If the Padres don’t pay him top dollar, things could get interesting.
According to Bob Nightengale, contenders might be lining up for his services, including a team that already flirted with him in the 2018-19 offseason when he first became available: the New York Yankees.
Manny to the BX in 2024? What are your thoughts?🗽#RepBX pic.twitter.com/t36A6eNnIr
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) February 20, 2023
Nightengale’s remarks appear to be more of an interpretation about what could possibly happen than reporting in this specific case, but it does make sense.
He names four teams: the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants are both desperate to add some star-power and showed as much in recent weeks; the New York Mets were this close to signing Carlos Correa to play third base and have a boatload of money, and the Yankees don’t have a competent third baseman.
If the Yankees didn’t sign Machado in his mid-20s, it’s hard to see them going all-in now, though.
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