MLB rumors: What should Yankees expect if they sign Manny Machado? His former manager, ex-Yankee Buck Showalter, explains

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder headline the free agency class. Both players will command contracts in excess of $300 million. New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is expected to reach out to agents for both players.

Watch video

Free agent shortstop Manny Machado will get paid this offseason. There’s no doubt about that. Question is, what will the team that signs him get for all that money?

Following a less-than-stellar appearance in the 2018 playoffs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, some are wondering if Machado is worth the headache that will come with a contract which could be worth more than $300 million.

Who better to break down Machado than his former manager in Baltimore, Buck Showalter?

The former Yankees skipper talked with Joel Sherman of the New York Post about what teams bidding for Machado can expect from the 26-year-old slugger:

“There are a lot more pluses on him than minuses,” Showalter said during a 30-minute phone call. “When you are a manager, you don’t want to spend a lot of time on maintenance on players who can’t play. Manny is worth the time. You have to tell him what is expected. He is easy to talk to, and he usually is remorseful when he does something wrong.”

…

“Manny loves baseball, but who knows what happens when someone gets this kind of [financial] commitment,” Showalter said. “Will it make him more driven or more lackadaisical with that kind of commitment? No one is smart enough to know that. What I know is that his talent plays.”

…

“The talent is a no-brainer,” Showalter said. “Guys like him do not come around often. He likes to play. He doesn’t like to be inactive. He understands what he has to do to play every day [perhaps limit effort in some areas], and you have to give him some freedom. Will some of that change when [he gets a long-term deal] and he doesn’t have to [want to play every day to make money]?”

21 things learned at GM Meetings

Machado didn’t do himself any favors during the playoffs.

In the fourth inning of Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, 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 of the NLCS, 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.

Following Game 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park in Boston, Bleacher Report posted a story which said Machado was caught trying to steal signs.

In Game 3 of the World Series, Machado dogged it out of the batter’s box on a drive to left field, thinking he had a home run. But the ball hit the outfield wall and Machado was held to a single.

In Game 4 of the World Series, Machado appeared to spike Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce while running out a ground ball.

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