Machado

[Mike Sixel]

I'm guessing Phillies or white Sox, with Yankees right behind them.

[Squirrel]

 

Right but LA and NY shed payroll last season, almost certainly for the specific purpose of chasing Harper and Machado. He's probably going to easily clear Stanton's 300M+ contract. 

Can the Yankees carry Stanton AND more than one of those three of Kershaw, Harper and Machado?

[mudcat14]

 

Right but LA and NY shed payroll last season, almost certainly for the specific purpose of chasing Harper and Machado. He's probably going to easily clear Stanton's 300M+ contract. 

 

The Yankees added Stanton's deal and couldn't find any takers for Ellsbury.  They'll go with Andujar & Torres @ 2B & 3B precisely because they'll be cheap for a while.  All of their money will be used to tie up Judge, Gregorious & Sanchez, along with attracting the LH Harper and starting pitching.  They have no need or desire for another costly RH bat.

 

I'd be really surprised if this winter's FA freeze-out is a 1-year trend.  Manny is clearly very desirable, but to me his windfall will be just a rung below Harper & Kershaw simply because the biggest money clubs have his spot covered.  I don't see anyone getting $300mil.  $35mil/year maybe, but not for more than 6-years.  The risk has proven to be way to big, more often than not.   

[Mike Sixel]

Fangraphs has an article on trading him....

[cmoss84]

I think Kershaw remains a Dodger and Harper remains a Nat. Machado will be the only one up for grabs by the top $ bidders. If I am Philly, I might think about trading Crawford in a package right now for Machado to start courting him.