These five teams should already gear up to get involved in the Manny Machado rumors coming next offseason.
It’s not too soon for Manny Machado rumors. With this offseason’s star free agents off the table, some clubs are already dreaming about next offseason. Machado is one of the potential monster free agents to hit the open market. When he does, we’ll have a little bit of history repeated.
Machado and Bryce Harper were the two big names everyone was talking about between the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Machado ended up on the San Diego Padres where he has been as advertised. He was a runner-up in the MVP race last year. What does he have in store for the Padres this season?
Manny Machado rumors about him using the opt out in his contract after the 2023 season have teams on high alert. Already, these five teams should start dreaming about signing him.
5. Manny Machado rumors: The Mets have their Carlos Correa backup plan
The Carlos Correa saga with the New York Mets dragged on through the holidays and into the New Year. Holiday decorations were put up and taken down between the time it took him to go from the San Francisco Giants to the Mets and finally to the Minnesota Twins.
In vengeful fashion, we should expect the Mets to be one of the more aggressive teams to get involved in next winter’s Manny Machado rumors.
Their third base situation isn’t too dire at the moment. Veteran Eduardo Escobar and their second best prospect Brett Baty will man the position in 2023. Escobar does have a team option for 2024. Baty could be more of a left fielder than third baseman for New York.
The Mets have become the team everyone expects to pay big bucks to free agent stars. Machado is no exception. We saw them sneakily pursue Correa in the middle of the night this offseason. Next winter, we already know they’ll have an interest in Machado.
4. The Yankees need have another shot at him
New York Yankees fans are already burnt out from one season of Josh Donaldson at third base. Acquired last offseason in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, he’s a shell of his former self. Fortunately, the team can buy him out after the 2023 season. When they do, they should turn their attention to Machado.
Yankees fans remember feeling confident that he would end up on their roster back in 2019. It was Miguel Andujar who got the start at third base instead before Gio Urshela won the job for the bulk of the season.
Third base has been a position of some need for the Yankees. In the days after Alex Rodriguez, Chase Headley is one of the better and more consistent at the position along with Urshela.
Machado is in a different class. Yankees fans may still wonder if they made those Manny Machado rumors come true several years ago if they would have made a trip to the World Series by now.
New York will get another crack at him next winter. These aren’t the George Steinbrenner-run Yankees, though. They seem a little more timid to hand out gigantic deals. In the post-Donaldson era of baseball in the Bronx, Machado would be the answer many crave.
3. The Phillies chose Bryce Harper the last time
Manny Machado rumors made their way through the Philadelphia Phillies news cycle before the team ultimately decided on Bryce Harper. The team was bound to land one of these mega stars. They chose the outfielder.
It’s hard to argue against it. Harper has been terrific for them, capturing the 2021 MVP already. The Phillies can actually do something unique and years later look like the biggest winners of all from the 2018-2019 offseason if they are able to add Machado.
Third base is wide open in Philadelphia with only Alec Bohm at the position. He’s a more natural fit at first base or the DH. Considering Rhys Hoskins is a free agent after the year is over, there’s going to be a place to put Bohm if the Phillies choose to let their right-handed slugger leave.
Machado would give the Phillies possibly the best left side of the infield in baseball. Paired alongside Trea Turner, they’ll have offense galore out of those two spots. Machado would bring the Phillies Gold Glove-caliber defense as well. It’s something they could use plenty more of. With Machado, they get a bit of everything.
There is little doubt we see Philadelphia involved in the sweepstakes. The only question is whether or not they prefer Matt Chapman who should come at a cheaper price annually.
2. The Blue Jays could move on from Matt Chapman
Speaking of Matt Chapman and the Phillies, what would be left for the Toronto Blue Jays if he were to leave? The team just traded for him last offseason. Would they really move on this quickly?
The Blue Jays would be wise to look at extending Chapman, however, his first year with the Blue Jays was a little underwhelming. Chapman is a low-batting-average, high-power guy. He strikes out a ton and tries to make up for it with his dazzling defense. Staying put in Toronto is one option. The Blue Jays could have an upgrade in mind.
The Blue Jays should definitely get involved in the Manny Machado rumors next offseason when he opts out of his deal with the Padres. The team is usually active in the free-agent market. This most recent offseason, they definitely did seem to pursue some of the better names out there.
Machado is exactly what the Blue Jays were hoping Chapman could become. They’re very different players. Chapman has his faults while Machado looks almost invincible.
Do we see Machado head back to the American League East where it all began? We can expect a bidding war between the Blue Jays and Yankees for this former foe of both.
1. Don’t count out the Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have a big move left in them. We all feel it. This offseason was more about lighter moves. They’re taking a chance on Cody Bellinger. Dansby Swanson was an addition for the long-term, not so much about what he can do in 2023.
The Manny Machado rumors should stop off in Chicago. Maybe the Chicago White Sox even get involved. However, it’s the Cubs who could use his bolt of energy a little bit more.
Among these five teams mentioned as future suitors for Machado, it’s the Cubs whose third base situation is most dire. Christopher Morel or Patrick Wisdom will probably get the majority of innings at the position. They are decent part-time players. They shouldn’t be playing every day and at a position where there will be a superstar available next offseason.
Signing Machado would be a huge boost to the Chicago offseason. Machado isn’t unfamiliar with helping to carry a lineup. He did it for a good part of the 2022 season in San Diego.
The Cubs are going to need to consistently make big moves like this. Machado is the superstar they need to pursue. Other than Shohei Ohtani, there may not be a bigger name available next offseason. He’s the guy for them to get.