Yankees Rumors: Manny Machado Eyeing New York When Contract With Dodgers Ends After 2018 MLB Season

Even as the New York Yankees compete to make the playoffs and win the 2018 World Series, there have been plenty of rumors about what the team could do in 2019. With plenty of money to spend as some of the league’s best players are set to hit free agency, the Bronx Bombers are expected to add another star to the roster.

Bryce Harper and Manny Machado will be the top hitters available, and both are candidates to sign with the Yankees. An eventual union between Harper and New York has been speculated about for years, but it could be the infielder that’s more likely to end up wearing pinstripes.

Machado, 26, was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the All-Star break and reportedly has eyes on the Big Apple. According to Fancred’s Jon Heyman, people close to Machado believe the Yankees are his first choice. One of Machado’s friends said that would mean giving up playing shortstop, even though the free-agent-to-be has expressed an interest to stay at the position for the foreseeable future.

Finding a spot for Machado on the field could be the Yankees’ biggest obstacle in bringing him to New York. They are set at shortstop with Didi Gregorius, who has replaced Derek Jeter as well as anyone could’ve hoped. Gleyber Torres currently mans second base, and the team hopes he’ll be there for the next 15 years. Third base, where Machado has excelled the most on defense, is occupied by Rookie of the Year favorite Miguel Andujar.

The Yankees could be willing to do some maneuvering to bring in one of the best players in baseball. Maybe that would mean playing Andujar at DH for much of the time since his defense has been sub-par. New York could even clear the way for Machado by dealing Andujar for a starting pitcher, though the Yankees likely aren’t in a hurry to trade a budding star that doesn’t make much money.

Machado could command a contract that matches or even exceeds that of Yankees’ outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who owns the largest contract in the history of American team sports. There had been speculation that Harper could get the first-ever $400 million deal, but with the way both players have performed in 2018, it might be Machado that ends up with the more lucrative deal.

Harper’s power numbers remain impressive with 30 home runs and a .510 slugging percentage, but he’s hitting just .239 as the Washington Nationals fall further and further out of the playoff race.

In 26 games with the Dodgers, Machado has slowed down with just two home runs and seven RBI. His slump hasn’t stopped him from hitting .306/.382/.540 overall, putting him 13th in OPS among all MLB players.