Yankees may shy away from Manny Machado due to attitude concerns
Manny Machado has more than enough talent to be a superstar for the Yankees, but his attitude is a major concern for Brian Cashman.
Based on talent, signing Manny Machado this offseason makes perfect sense for the Yankees. That’s not the only thing Brian Cashman considers when evaluating potential free agents though. The ability to strengthen the team’s culture is also a factor. Machado might feel short of Cashman’s standards on that front.
Ultimately, Machado may lose his chance to be a Yankee because of his lack of hustle on the diamond. He’s been criticized publicly for his lackadaisical play on several occasions this season. His recent comments regarding the issue won’t do anything to allay concerns about his motor on the field. The Dodgers star recently told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that he’s not going to become a “Johnny Hustle” anytime soon.
Expect those words to be repeated numerous time in Cashman’s front office meetings this winter. The team already has a bit of a reputation as being feast or famine. Fans, in particular, want to see the team acquire hitters who can give the lineup more tough outs. A greater emphasis on putting balls in play will be occur before the 2019 season begins.
Hustle and making regular contact are different things, but they are somewhat connected. The Yankee fan base will quickly turn on any player who doesn’t appear to be giving their all. If Machado signs a massive contract and then jogs to first on a ground out he’s going to hear about it from droves of fans in the Bronx.
Remember, the Yankees already have one player who gives questionable effort in the form of Gary Sanchez. He was blasted on social media for failing to run out ground balls earlier this season. As it turns out, some of that was due to injury, but some fans still don’t think he plays hard enough for their liking.
At the very least, the issue of Machado’s hustle is something that will give the Yankees and other teams pause before handing him a massive deal in free agency. It isn’t a big enough concern to prevent Machado from becoming one of the highest paid players in baseball, but it might be enough to convince the Yankees their money could be spent better elsewhere. Expect the issue of Machado’s hustle to be discussed loudly and frequently until he finds a new team this winter.