MLB rumors: Is Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner ‘scared’ to sign Dodgers’ Manny Machado?

Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Machado will be a free agent on Saturday, November 1, 2018 (11/1/18). He and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper headline the free agent class. The Yankees are expected to pursue at least one, if not both of the sluggers as general manager Brian Cashman begins building his team for 2019.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado will be a free agent on Saturday. He’s expected to receive a contract which could be worth at least $300 million. But Machado did himself no favors during the 2018 playoffs, with several questionable plays on the field which could cause potential suitors to think twice about signing the 26-year-old slugger.

One of those suitors is expected to be the Yankees, especially with Didi Gregorius out after having Tommy John surgery.

Did Machado’s playoff performance scare off Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner? Here’s what he told The New York Post’s Joel Sherman

“That kind of stuff [lack of hustle/dirty play], irregardless of who the player is, in any trade or free-agent acquisition, these are the questions we are asking,” Steinbrenner said. “The analytics, the pro scouting are always talking temperament, personality, motivation, how good a teammate someone is, do they understand what is expected of them by the New York Yankees and by the fans of New York City. It does matter, and it will be no different this year.”

He said 10-year-ish commitments — the kind likely needed to sign a Harper or Machado — haven’t “scared us in the past and won’t in the future.” He said adding Giancarlo Stanton with 10 years left on his contract last offseason would not preclude another lavish contract, noting the team has big pacts coming off the books in the next few years.

But he did say that at the team’s scouting meetings last week, players due to make considerably less than Machado were nixed for consideration because of makeup reasons.

“It is always a concern to me,” Steinbrenner said. “Hustle and work ethic is a big part of talking about a player, whether it is a $300 million or $30 million player we are talking about. It is not just Hit f/x or Pitch f/x. It is temperament. Every player we talk about, it would be one of my questions. … New York, you will have a tough time if you don’t have the temperament for it or you don’t have the temperament for how [the Yankees] insist it is done. If I thought there was a serious concern when it came to work ethic, it is my family’s and partners’ money that is being invested here. That is why it is part of every conversation. It has to be.”

Projecting Yankees’ 2019 roster

Here is a quick recap of Machado’s mishaps in the playoffs:

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




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