MLB Rumors: Manny Machado's First Choice Is New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are reportedly Manny Machado's preference to sign with in free agency.

Along with Bryce Harper, Machado is one of the biggest free agents available and is expected to command a lucrative contract in free agency. So it's no surprise that there a number of teams interested in meeting and acquiring him.

The latest with regard to the Dominican was that he was meeting the likes of the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox and three other mystery teams.

And according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden who was speaking during a Wednesday appearance on the CBS Sports Network, the Yankees will be able to land him if they are willing to shell out the money.

"Those [Yankees, Phillies, White Sox] are the only three teams that have been public," Bowden said. "Now Dan Lozano, the agent [of Machado], has been telling people there are mystery teams. We're trying to figure out who are the mystery teams. Maybe the Angels, maybe the Giants? We don't know. I said all along that he would end up with the New York Yankees. Now, will [Yankees executive] Brian Cashman be willing to pony up and pay the kind of money that the White Sox and Phillies are offering? I don't know the answer because Brian has shown a lot of restraint the last couple of years."

"The one thing I can tell you that I know, we know about facts... Manny Machado's first choice is the New York Yankees. So if the Yankees are able to compete and are willing to compete financially for his services, they will be the team that gets Manny Machado," he said.

The Yankees have been interested in Machado for a while and the 26-year-old does fill their current needs, but the organization reportedly does not want to pay him $300 million.

However, rumors on Tuesday stated they were also open to dealing American League Rookie of the Year runner-up Miguel Andujar which could indicate a renewed interest in signing Machado, who could take Andujar's place at third base.

Regardless, if the Yankees don't want to spend that kind of money on the four-time All-Star, another team definitely will, such as the Phillies, who have made their intentions of spending big this offseason very clear. They also reportedly prefer Machado over Harper, though they have been linked with both free agents in recent months.

"We're going into this expecting to spend money," Phillies owner John Middleton said last month. "And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. We just prefer not to be completely stupid. It's exciting to contemplate what we may be able to do this off-season. We know the free agent class this year is really, really good."