MLB rumors: Latest on Dodgers' Manny Machado, Clayton Kershaw | What it means for Yankees' free agency plans

by Felix Pantaleón

MLB free agency begins on Saturday, November 3, 2018 (11/3/18). Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper headline the free agent class. Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw could hit the market as well if he opts out of his contract.

The Dodgers‘ loss could be the Yankees‘ gain.

Los Angeles is preparing to lose their two best players in free agency: shortstop Manny Machado and left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi says Kershaw is expected to opt out of his contract and hit the free agent market, which could ignite a bidding war for perhaps the best pitcher of this generation:

The expectation in the industry is Kershaw will exercise the opt out. It could be as instantaneous as he opts out then re-signs. But a lot of people around the league believe he will take that step of opting out of those final two years of the contract.

Takeaway: Kershaw has been injured in each of the last three seasons, and his playoff performance isn’t on par with his regular season totals. But the 30-year-old southpaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and would be an upgrade to just about every rotation in the majors.

Clayton Kershaw has roughly 36 hours to decide whether he will opt out of his contract with the @Dodgers. The deadline is Thursday morning at midnight ET. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 30, 2018

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has gone on the record as saying he needs to fix the starting rotation. He’ll have to decide if paying Kershaw top-dollar for the back-end of his career is worth the investment.

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As for Machado, Morosi reports the slugger could have cost himself some money with his on-field transgressions during the playoffs:

Significant money, no. But some money, perhaps … We may see … a 5 or 10 percent reduction of what that earning potential could have been for Machado. The market is still going to be very, very healthy for him. … The Phillies, they liked him in July. They still like him now.

Takeaway: Machado will still get paid, but it might not be with the Yankees. SNY’s Andy Martino reported Monday that the Yankees are “lukewarm” on Machado. Cashman may decide to spend his money elsewhere. But never say never when it comes to the Yankees and free agency.

Here is the video of Morosi’s segment on MLB Network:

Is Clayton Kershaw on the verge of opting out of his current deal?@jonmorosi joined @scottbraun on #MLBTonight with the latest offseason buzz. pic.twitter.com/TZLbZ1UXHp
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 30, 2018