As Manny Machado begins final camp with Orioles, lucrative future - with Yankees? - awaits
Bob Nightengale
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado walked into the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse at 8:48 Saturday morning, circling the room and shaking hands of all his teammates, wondering all winter whether he’d even see them again.
Here he was saying hello.
Before he says goodbye.
Machado, who was shopped during the winter but stayed when the Orioles never received the trade package they desired, will ultimately end up with the New York Yankees.
For now, he’ll be with the Orioles at least until opening day.
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Maybe even past the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
If the Orioles somehow are still in the AL East race, perhaps throughout the season.
Machado, 25, has no control of whether he’s traded this season, but when the season ends, he’ll have the ultimate power, with that pen in his hand sitting in front of offers that start with $300 million.
And it would be the upset of all free-agent upsets if he’s not playing for the Yankees.
“We’ll see, we’ll see,’’ Machado said, laughing.
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The Orioles, who drafted, signed and developed Machado since he was a teenager, have prepared themselves for his farewell.
Yet, if they are going to make one last run, and compete in the AL East this season, their only chance is with Machado still wearing their uniform.
But for a few harrowing weeks during the winter, when the Orioles put him on the trade block, he wondered if he would be gone before the holidays.
“It crossed my mind a little bit when the trade talks were going,’’ Machado said, speaking publicly for the first time since last season, “that I might not be able to see these guys again. At one point, it was kind of a little sad.
“Thank God nothing went down and I was able to come back, and see my guys that I’ve been with for seven years.’’
And now, for the first time since reaching the big leagues, he’ll be the Orioles’ everyday shortstop, too.
This is where he plans to stay.
Just not in Baltimore.
“I know a lot of the talk has been,’’ Machado said, “'Oh, is he going to be worth more there? More money? It’s not about the money. It’s not about going out there and signing a 20-year deal.
“This is where my heart has always been. This is what I’ve wanted to do.
“This is what I came into the world to do was to play shortstop at the big-league level. It’s been my dream all along.’’
The Orioles would gladly accommodate Machado’s request to stay at shortstop for the rest of his career, but just don’t plan on emptying the checkbook for him, too.
No hard feelings.
Machado, who has produced three All-Star appearances and a lifetime .805 OPS, understands it, just as he did when the Orioles began extensively shopping him at the winter meetings.
“I knew from the get-go, there’s a business part of it,’’ Machado said. “They’re’ trying to get the best for the team. They’re just trying to look out for what was out there, what my value was worth. I knew they still wanted me here, and I was a big key to the success that we’re going to have this year for the team.
“So I’m here to be an Oriole.’’
The Orioles know they can’t afford to keep Machado, who along with Bryce Harper may shatter Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million deal as the most lucrative baseball history.
Machado knows it, too.
Everyone in baseball knows it.
There have been no negotiations about a long-term contract to stay with the Orioles, Machado acknowledged, leaving zero doubt he’ll hit free agency.
The only question is whether he’ll spend the entire season in an Orioles uniform, or will be traded before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
But he will be gone.
“It shouldn’t be a distraction,’’ Machado said. “I don’t work in the front office. I’m not an agent. I play baseball. That’s the only thing I know how to do. It’s the only thing I really know how to do, to be honest.
“My job is to go out there and produce, and if I don’t do that, none of the other stuff will come with it.
Machado has no control of the present, without any no-trade provisions in his contract, but can control where he works in the future, where he’s expected to be employed for the next 10 years of his life.
The Yankees.
Machado grew up in Miami idolizing the Yankees.
Machado’s idol, Alex Rodriguez, spent 10 years and won a World Series with the Yankees.
And Machado, who would like to be on center stage in a big market, happens to love New York City.
Machado wants to be a Yankee, and, oh, how the feeling is mutual.
The Yankees didn’t even bother negotiating to bring back Todd Frazier, who wanted a two-year contract, and not just for the 2018 season.
They would like to have free-agent third baseman Mike Moustakas, but sorry, only if he’s willing to stay for one year.
The Yankees, for the first time, are cutting payroll just to be under the $197 million luxury tax threshold, so they can sign Machado without the stiff penalties.
Machado will cost a minimum of $300 million. Probably at least $350 million. Maybe $400 million. Possibly more.
No matter.
Just like the Yankees aren’t going to worry that they already have a shortstop in Didi Gregorius. The Yankees can always move Gregorius to second base. Machado could switch back to third base if he desires.
The Yankees just know they will make room for him, not only on the field, but in their payroll, having Stanton and Machado in the same uniform for potentially the next decade.
“We’ll see what happens,’’ Machado says. “This is a great organization I’ve always played for, gave me an opportunity to come up here and play in the big leagues, but at the same time there are some things that are out of my jurisdiction, out of my hands.
“What I can do is go out there and give them the best season I can.
“And see what happens.’’
He’s an Oriole now, but will be a Yankee before you know it, and, yes, playing shortstop.
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