The Los Angeles Dodgers are 2 games away from being eliminated from the 2018 World Series by the Boston Red Sox. One piece that was supposed to help the Dodgers bring a title to LA was Manny Machado. The talented shortstop has helped the Dodgers on the field but his antics have been noticeable. It’s become increasingly clear that Manny Machado is a scumbag. He’s acknowledged that hustling isn’t his thing and has tried to take out Jesus Aguilar’s Achilles during the NLCS. Being lazy and a dirty player while everyone is watching during the postseason in the midst of a contract year? That’s a bold strategy cotton, let’s see how it plays out for him.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today had the following on the Dodgers efforts to retain Machado past this season:
“The Los Angeles Dodgers have shown no indication they will try to re-sign Machado, and even if they entertained the notion when they gave up six prospects to acquire him from the Baltimore Orioles at the July 31 trade deadline, it’s vanished now. They have seen the warts and blemishes that have been exposed underneath the infielder’s worldly talent.”
It’s hard not to blame them. Handing this clown a $300 million-plus contract doesn’t seem like a good idea. Especially when that probably means we are going to see more of Machado’s alternate personality “Johnny Hustle” after landing a mega contract. The Dodgers won’t miss him either with Corey Seager set to return from Tommy John surgery.
Speaking of Tommy John… Didi Gregorius underwent that exact procedure after the Yankees got the snot beat out of them by the Red Sox. Gregorius will miss most of the 2019 season. Add in the fact that Miguel Andujar can’t field a groundball and the Yankees have serious question marks facing the left side of their infield. Machado may be part of Brian Cashman’s thought process when free agency opens.
Nightengale continues:
“There are only a few teams willing to spend at least $300 million for the mercurial star and villain of this postseason. The New York Yankees are the front-runners, while the Philadelphia Phillies also plan to be in the bidding.”
The old Yankees are dead. We know this. However, if the Yankees get outbid by the Phillies then we can truly say the old George Steinbrenner Yankees are officially dead. How embarrassing would that be? I would expect the AROD factor to play in here. Machado’s idol growing up was Alex Rodriguez and AROD figures to be part of the recruiting process. Machado, 26, certainly has a chance to become the highest paid free agent ever given his age with many expecting his contract to rival what Bryce Harper lands on the open market.
