Free-agent infielder Manny Machado remains unsigned, but the market for his elite services seems to be coming into focus. The surest sign that things are coming together? Machado's father is speaking publicly about his son's free agency and dropping scoops along the way.
Manuel Machado recently spoke made an appearance on Z Digital radio and gave the lay of the land:
Manuel Machado, Manny’s Father:
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 18, 2019
“Manny has received offers from different teams: Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies, now there’s a lot of interest from the White Sox.”#ZDigital #ZDeportes @z101digital @ZDeportes pic.twitter.com/2QoiZEy5zl
So to hear Machado's father tell it, the Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies have made offers, and the White Sox are prominently in the mix. The new information here is that the Dodgers, at least according to Mr. Machado, have presented Machado with an offer. The Dodgers of course acquired Machado from the Orioles last July, and he was a key part of their run to the World Series. The working assumption, however, is that they weren't particularly interested in re-signing him, what with Justin Turner lodged at third base and shortstop Corey Seager slated to return from injury.
Is Machado's father perhaps mistaken? Here's Jon Heyman:
Yankees talked concepts with Manny but since the sides were very far apart the only official offer they made was paying his dinner at Ristorante Morini on Madison and 85th (and that was before Tulo and LeMahieu). As for the dodgers, they have not made an offer for him this winter https://t.co/GesvKFxXt6
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 18, 2019
According to Heyman, the Dodgers haven't made an offer, which squares with prior reporting and assumptions on that front.
As for the ubiquitous mystery team, Machado's father also may have hinted at that:
Manuel Machado, Manny’s Father:
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 18, 2019
"I believe that the team you will probably less think about is the one that’s gonna sign Manny Machado."#ZDigital #ZDeportes @z101digital @ZDeportes
This seems to imply that a dark-horse Machado suitor may have the inside track. On Thursday we learned that the Padres may be that Machado mystery team, and indeed they check a lot of the relevant boxes. Consider San Diego one to watch as the Machado sweepstakes moves forward.
Whoever lands him will be getting a frontline power threat who can play shortstop or third base and who goes into his age-26 season with 33.8 WAR already to his credit.