Manny Machado Rumors: Yankees Might Not Come Close To Matching Offer By Phillies, White Sox

Manny Machado Orioles Yankees — Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a solo home run in the first inning during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 1, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

The Manny Machado Sweepstakes continues to play out with the infielder still unsigned seven days into the New Year. It’s been a few weeks since the free agent took meetings with the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, yet he doesn’t appear close to accepting a deal.

It’s long been reported that the Yankees are the superstar’s first choice, and he would likely pick them if his offers are close to being equal. New York’s unwillingness to meet Machado’s contract demands could be a large part of the holdup.

Machado might have had his eyes on a $300 million deal at the start of the offseason, though it sounds like no team has been willing to go that far for the infielder. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, there’s a chance the Yankees don’t even have interest in giving Machado $200 million.

The #Yankees are either playing it coy, trying to gauge the Andujar trade market, or simply have no intention of offering Manny Machado a $200 million-plus contract. The Chicago #WhiteSox and Philadelphia #Phillies remain the most aggressive teams for the prized infielder.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019

It isn’t a surprise that the Yankees aren’t willing to approach a record-setting contract for Machado. The team reportedly has been hoping to land the infielder with an offer shorter than the 10-year deal he might be seeking.

But it’d be hard to consider New York a real contender for Machado if the organization won’t give him at least $200 million.

The 26-year-old is among the best players in baseball with several years left in his prime. He’s been an All-Star four times in the last six seasons, finishing in the top five in MVP voting twice since 2015. Machado has boasted an average WAR of 5.37 over the last six seasons.

New York agreed to a contract with Troy Tulowitzki last week. The veteran is expected to start the 2019 MLB season at shortstop as Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John Surgery, though the signing doesn’t take the Yankees out of the running for Machado. If New York lands Machado, it could increase the odds that third baseman Miguel Andujar will be traded.

Fancred's Jon Heyman reported a few days ago that the Yankees were considered to be the favorites to land Machado with no team offering him $300 million.

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