Bryce Harper, Manny Machado: Who Will Sign First? MLB Insiders Explain

The Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sagas have entered the New Year with both players yet to decide their next destination. The duo are the most sought after free agents in baseball with multiple franchises looking to sign either one or both the players.

Machado has been pursued by the Chicago White Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees and it is expected that he will sign for one of the three franchises. He went on a three-city tour late in December visiting the aforementioned franchises, but is yet to make a decision.

The free agent shortstop is seeking a record deal worth around $300 million over 10 years, and while the White Sox and Phillies are open to engaging in Machado’s demands, the Yankees are said to be looking at a more short-term deal with more annual value in terms of the wages. Despite their different approach, the New York franchise are said to be the favorites to land Machado, who is also a big fan of the storied baseball franchise.

Harper, on the other hand, is yet to reveal his preferred destination and is said to have held meeting with a number of franchises before, during and after the winter meetings. The Phillies and White Sox remain interested in the right-fielder too, but are likely to face competition from the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.

Again, the former Washington Nationals star is also looking for a record deal north of $300 million, but it remains to be seen which franchise will oblige. His former team are also in the running despite the player turning down their reported $300 million offer over 10 years.

MLB Insiders John Heyman and Joel Sherman debated on who will sign first to bring the long running saga to a conclusion. It was almost unanimous that Machado will be the first to make a decision owing to him giving a clear idea of the franchises that he could join.

"We publicly know [Machado's] field," Sherman said, as quoted on MLB.com. "We know it's going to be the White Sox, the Phillies or the Yankees, almost certainly. And once you define the field, I think you're up to the bidding process ... and it doesn't seem, from what we publicly know, that's the place where Bryce Harper is right now."

Machado has indicated that he will make a decision in the New Year and is being suggested that Harper could wait for the shortstop to make a decision in order to better the deal he agrees with one of the interested franchises.