MLB rumors: How much will Dodgers’ Manny Machado lose in free agency with moronic plays vs. Brewers in NLCS?

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado will become a free agent after the 2018 World Series. The Dodgers visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, October 19, 2018 (10/19/18) for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The winner of the NLCS will meet the Boston Red Sox in the World Series, beginning Tuesday, October 23, 2018 (10/23/18) at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.

Despite being one win away from his first trip to the World Series, this has not been a good week for Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado.

In the fourth inning of Game 2 on Saturday at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisc., a 4-3 Dodgers victory, Machado didn’t hustle down the line in a groundout to shortstop, then told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, “I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base and … you know, whatever can happen. That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea, that’s not who I am.”

In the 10th inning of Game 4 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., a 2-1 Dodgers win, Machado caught the back leg of Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out a ground ball. That prompted Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich to say, “It was a dirty play by a dirty player.” MLB fined Machado an undisclosed amount.

Machado will be a free agent following the 2018 World Series.

So how much did these indiscretions cost him? Not much, according to MLB.com’s Jon Mororsi:

The impact will be “minimal,” one high-ranking club executive said Thursday, and others around the industry concurred.

…

Analytical data will heavily influence the years and dollars in every Machado offer; that is generally good news for him, as numbers tend to produce favorable portrayals of 26-year-olds at their athletic peak. In addition, Machado’s future earnings will be shaped by the input of executives, scouts, managers and coaches who have followed him for years. And for those close observers, the controversy of the past week has been a reminder — not a revelation.

…

Machado was the most coveted position player in baseball leading up to the non-waiver Trade Deadline. The Phillies wanted him then and probably will try to sign him this offseason. The Yankees are expected to pursue Machado, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, especially with Didi Gregorius coming off Tommy John surgery.

Thus, the effect of a turbulent week on Machado is likely to be “marginal,” one rival team official said. Of course, “marginal” is a relative term. If Machado had been in line for a $300 million offer, and now a team loves him 5 percent less, those misadventures on the bases came with a $15 million penalty.

The future of every Yankee

WFAN’s Mike Francesa tried to ask Yankees general manager Brian Cashman about Machado on Wednesday and if the shortstop’s mistakes would impact interest by New York.

Because Machado is under contract with another team, Cashman did not directly comment.

Kay: “One final thing, and I’m going to try to be creative with this because I know you’re a tough when we it comes to this. Would you consider a player, Brian, that comes out and says, ‘I just don’t hustle to first base?’ If it’s somebody of unworldly talent that doesn’t run hard to first base all the time, would that be somebody would to put in their clubhouse?

Cashman paused momentarily, then answered:

“Boy, you’re really good at what you do! You’re trying to Jedi me into answering a question that’s going to put me in the abyss with MLB, so I’m going to have to pass.

Kay: “But you know I’m not talking about a specific player, right Brian?

Cashman chuckled.

Kay: “It was a great effort by me.”

Cashman: “I just wish that we were in a position to be playing still. I guess that’s the best way to end this interview and duck that question altogether.”

Machado and the Dodgers can advance to the World Series on Friday, if they beat the Brewers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The winner of the NLCS will meet the Boston Red Sox, who won the ALCS on Thursday, knocking out the Houston Astros in five games.

(NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller contributed to this report.)

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.