MLB rumors: Why Dodgers’ Manny Machado to Yankees is less likely after 2018 World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado will be a free agent following the 2018 World Series. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is pondering a move for Machado, who could fill in for Didi Gregorius, who will miss the beginning of the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery.

We know that Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado likes the idea of playing for the Yankees.

Question is, do the Yankees like Machado enough to offer him a contract worth more than $300 million.

That’s what the club’s front office is trying to determine as free agency approaches.

According to SNY’s Andy Martino, the Yankees are not all-in on Machado:

The baseball operations and scouting departments, which spent most of last week meeting to plot an offseason strategy, was not impressed by Machado’s postseason antics, and are now “lukewarm” on pursuing the former Oriole and Dodger, according to major league sources.

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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 on Friday, 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.

In part because of these incidents, the Yankees are wary of signing Machado, per Martino:

Of course, Machado is one of the most talented ballplayers in the world. It’s possible that because of that, and the need to address the Red Sox championship, Yankees ownership will mandate an all-out pursuit of Machado.

But that won’t be the recommendation of baseball ops. That department would prefer to monitor the Machado market, see how it unfolds, but not go all-in, as they did for, say CC Sabathia after the 2008 season.

It doesn’t help that Machado hit just .182 in the World Series as the Dodgers lost to the Red Sox in five games.

Machado made the last out in Game 5, going down swinging against Red Sox ace Chris Sale, who was pitching in relief.

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