MLB rumors: Why Yankees are serious about trying to sign Manny Machado

by Felix Pantaleón

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado could receive a contract worth at least $300 million in free agency. Will New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman pay up for the 26-year-old slugger? Or will he spend his money on Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper? Or perhaps Cashman opens his wallet for J.A. Happ, Patrick Corbin or Dallas Keuchel.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner weighed in Wednesday on free agent slugger Manny Machado. Steinbrenner sounded like a man who has concerns about the work ethic of the 26-year-old shortstop, and with good reason.

Machado, who appeared to dog it at times during the 2018 playoffs, is looking for a contract which could be worth at least $300 million.

Much has been made about general manager Brian Cashman getting the Yankees under the luxury tax threshold this past season.

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Did Cashman’s cash-conscious approach in 2018 clear the way for the Yankees to make a big splash in free agency by taking a chance on Machado?

MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal has the answer:

It’s not a bloated payroll anymore. Remember, they spent years planning for this moment to get under the luxury tax threshold, right? What’s the reason for that? To re-set the penalty rate from 50% on the dollar to 20% on the dollar. And the bottom line is … they are the Yankees. They are a star-driven team. They are about to purchase the rest of the YES Network back from FOX, so they’re going to want TV ratings and all of that. A Machado, a (Bryce) Harper, they would fit into that equation quite nicely, so from a payroll standpoint, sure, they’ll have choices to make, as they always do. They can afford Machado.

You can watch video of Rosenthal’s appearance Thursday on MLB Network below:

Will Manny Machado end up with the @Yankees?@Ken_Rosenthal with the latest on #MLBNHotStove. pic.twitter.com/5MTyylOD4H
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 15, 2018