The cases for and against the five best fits for Manny Machado
Canada Goose Outlet Does that mean Machado will be heading into next year with a canada goose outlet london 10 year contract? Or a $300 million check? It’s tough to say. Here are the five best teams for Machado’s services, with cases for and against why a Machado signing makes sense. Canada Goose Outlet
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While third baseman Miguel Andjar put together an exceptional rookie year, it’s hard to envision a world in which the Yankees don’t at least entertain signing Manny Machado.
Given his familiarity and assumedcomfort with canada goose outlet 2015 AL East opponents, his ability to make contact, and the hole that opens up at canada goose outlet shortstop while incumbent Didi Gregorius is recovering from Tommy John surgery, the scene is set for Machado to ditch the Dodger blues for the New York pinstripes come the springtime.
The case for:Machado is someone the Yankees need in their lineup: Though a righty, he’s a.282 career hitter, doesn’t strike out a ton and can be a 30/100 guy when healthy.
But more than that,a Machado signing gives the Yankees flexibility in the infield to move one or more players in a trade. Here are some potential options, if the Yankees want to get creative:
canada goose uk black friday Option A:Sign Machado to play third base; move Gleyber Torres to shortstop while Gregorius is out; re sign Neil Walker to play second/utility man; dangle Andjar for starting pitching help. canada goose uk black friday
buy canada goose jacket Option B:Sign Machado to play shortstop; move Andjar to first base; Torres stays at second; re sign Neil Walker to play third base/utility man. buy canada goose jacket
Option C:Sign Machado to play shortstop; trade Didi Gregorius for prospects or pitching help. Everyone else stays put.
canadian goose jacket There’s no denying that Machado’s actions in the 2018 postseason were un Yankee like at best and deplorable at hyperbolic worst, but money can change a man. Especially record breaking money. canadian goose jacket
Canada Goose Jackets The case against:Machado isn’t the Yankees’ No. 1 need on this year’s Christmas list. That priority, according to reports and the eye test, should be pitching, pitching, pitching and pitching. Canada Goose Jackets
uk canada goose outlet The Yankees will target everything available on the free agent andtrade markets, starting with Patrick Corbin and then everyone else. Should Machado still be there when the Yankees solidify their pitching, he’ll likely be a target. uk canada goose outlet
The case for:Much like the Yankees, signing Machado would offer the Cubs canada goose jacket outlet uk some roster flexibility.
TheCubs could stick Machado at third base, move Kris Bryant to left fieldand dangle Kyle Schwarber for rotation help. Or you could play Machado at shortstop, find a taker for Addison Russell and leave the rest as is.
The case against:It’s harder to repeat in baseball than to avoid political debate at the Thanksgiving dinner table with distant relatives, but that’s not to excuse the Cubs.
canada goose uk shop They began 2017 with a World Series hangover before a steamy second half, and they lost the division in Game 163 this year before being ousted from the playoffs in the wild card game. Altogether, those results don’t necessarily scream the Cubs’ need for Manny Machado. canada goose uk shop
The tricky part there is discovering what Bryant would be as a long term left fielder. Per Fangraphs, his UZR/150 in canada goose jacket outlet sale 2018 was 18.3. For those keeping score at home, that is not very good. In 496 big league innings in left, Bryant’s UZR/150 is 5.0. Mixed bag, generally.
Despite being immensely talented, Machadois an aggressive right handed hitter,something canada goose outlet online store the Cubsdon’t necessarily need.
Considering some of the payroll they have Yu Darvish, Jason Heyward and checks they’ll have to cut Kris Bryant it’s tough to see the Cubs justifying another big contract.
uk canada goose The case for:If the rumors and gestures are true, the Phillies are ready to back up the Brinks truck to land one or both ofMachado and Harper. uk canada goose
The Phillies finished two games under.500 in 2018, and for a large portion of the season looked to be legitimate NL East contenders. Then the young team broke down late in the season and faltered down the stretch, going 8 20 in September and being outscored 152 97 in that stretch.
The Phillies still have pieces to canada goose outlet toronto address add they need to shore up the pitching staff as a whole but Machado would certainly help a Phillies team that ranked at or near canada goose factory outlet toronto location the bottom canada goose outlet toronto factory of the NL in most major offensive categories, including runs (11th), hits (15th) and OPS canada goose outlet trillium parka black (10th).
canada goose uk outlet It would also allow the Phillies to move on from Maikel Franco, who for, whatever reason, has been linked in trade talks for a few years, even as recently as 2018. canada goose uk outlet
The case against:Alec Bohm, 2018 first round pick for the Phillies, would be in limbo should Machado sign and play third base. Bohm has an ETA of 2021 per MLB Pipeline, and prospects are suspects until they prove otherwise, but it’s hard seeing the Phillies moving on from a first round pick (No. 3 overall) in such a short timeframe. In today’s game, where young players and controllable contracts are the rage, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
On the other side, should Machado supplantScott Kingery for the shortstop spot, Kingery can be moved, as he’s on a team friendly contract. Kingery, 24, was a bit of a disappointment in 2018, but the team still seems high on him. 2014parka Would they move on from a core piece to sign Machado? Tough to say, but it wouldn’t surprise many.