MLB rumors: Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner wants face-to-face meeting with Manny Machado

by Felix Pantaleon

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is considering making a bid for free-agent slugger Manny Machado. Owner Hal Steinbrenner has some reservations about signing the 26-year-old shortstop, who is one of the crown jewels in free agency, along with Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.

Free-agent shortstop Manny Machado is one of the best bats available in free agency, along with outfielder Bryce Harper.

Given the injury to shortstop Didi Gregorius and the deep pockets of Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees continue to be linked to both players.

But after watching Machado’s lack of hustle and questionable decision-making during the 2018 playoffs, Steinbrenner has his concerns about dropping a ridiculous nine-figure contract for the shortstop.

Per MLB.com:

In an interview with the YES Network that will air in full Monday, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner reiterated his desire for an in-person meeting with Manny Machado, so he and general manager Brian Cashman can determine if the free-agent infielder is a fit for New York.

At the Owners Meetings earlier this month, Steinbrenner called Machado’s now-infamous “Johnny Hustle” comments “troubling” and said he wanted to “sit down with him face to face and ask him, ‘Where did this come from? What was the context around the entire interview? Was there a point you were trying to [make]? How do you justify it?’

Steinbrenner’s latest interview with the YES Network was filmed before MLB.com’s exclusive interviewwith Machado this week in which he addressed the controversial comments he made to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic last month. However, it’s doubtful Machado’s explanation changed much. Steinbrenner is going to want to meet with Machado no matter how many clear-the-air interviews the 26-year-old gives.

“There needs to be a sit down before we’re comfortable,” Steinbrenner told the YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits.

MLB Network Radio’s C.J. Nitkowski considers Steinbrenner’s comments to be a “warning shot” to Machado.

“There’s already a reaction and he’s not even a Yankee,” Nitkowski said. “And so the idea that says, ‘Hey you may have this uniform on one day,’ they want to make sure he understands that it’s a privilege to put on those Yankee pinstripes, and understand that [Yankees] fans already have an opinion about it right now. They would welcome you with open arms, but basically [Steinbrenner is saying], ‘Don’t pull any of that crap here.'”

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As a refresher, here’s a quick rundown of Machado’s postseason problems:

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.

Regardless of the player, if there are work-ethic issues, they need to be addressed prior to becoming a Yankee, says Hal Steinbrenner.

FULL INTERVIEW: Monday on Yankees Hot Stove pic.twitter.com/SQbH3lfj6o

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 23, 2018