MLB Rumors: Phillies, White Sox Eyeing Third Baseman If Manny Machado Signs With Yankees, Elsewhere

The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox hope Manny Machado will be starting on the left side of their respective infields in the 2019 MLB season. They are in a three-team race with the New York Yankees for one of the two superstars in free agency.

If New York doesn’t get Machado, they seem to be set with Miguel Andujar at third base and Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop until Didi Gregorius returns from Tommy John Surgery. Philadelphia and Chicago, however, could add a marquee infielder in free agency if they don’t land Machado.

The Phillies and White Sox are monitoring Mike Moustakas in free agency, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. The third baseman remains unsigned after another productive season, and both teams are considering him as a backup plan.

Moustakas, 30, hit .251/.315/.459 while splitting time between the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. He hit 28 home runs in 152 games after totaling 38 homers in the 2017 season.

Philadelphia acquired All-Star shortstop Jean Segura from the Seattle Mariners earlier this offseason. The Phillies could explore trading third baseman Maikel Franco if they sign Machado or even Moustakas.

Yolmer Sanchez started for the White Sox at third base a season ago, hitting .242/.306/.372 with eight home runs. The 26-year-old has only 29 home runs in 497 career MLB games. Shortstop Tim Anderson hit .240/.281/.406 with 20 home runs in his third season with Chicago.

Both Philadelphia and Chicago are also targeting Bryce Harper as they try to sign Machado.

Milwaukee has discussed bringing Moustakas back, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, though that would mean putting Travis Shaw at second base. Moustakas struggled with the Brewers in the playoffs, hitting .200/.273/.250 with no homers in 10 games.

Rosenthal also named the San Diego Padres as a possible landing spot for Moustakas.