Phillies rumors: If offers close, Manny Machado will sign with Yankees

Manny Machado has reportedly told his close friends that if the offers are close, he will choose to sign with the Yankees over the Phillies.

The Phillies pulled out all the stops for Manny Machado in his visit to Philadelphia Thursday, hoping to make a good impression on the soon-to-be 300-millionaire. Everyone from the front office to manager Gabe Kapler to local union electrician Tom Cudeyro was there to explain why Machado is best off becoming a Phillie.

With his free agent tour now over, its time to figure out which team Machado will ultimately sign with: the Phillies, Yankees, or White Sox. If the money is all equal, Machado apparently knows where he wants to go.

Jim Bowden of the Athletic (subscription required) wrote in his latest article that Machado told his friends that if the offers are close between all teams, he will sign with the Yankees. This has long been the speculation regarding the Machado pursuit as he is rumored to want to play in the Bronx for a long time now.

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Before you lose all hope, Bowden pointed out that Philadelphia is a better fit than New York for Machado. The Yankees already have Miguel Andujar, who finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. Signing Machado would put the Yankees in an odd position with Andujar, likely forcing a significant shift in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Bowden noted president Andy MacPhail’s connection to Machado from his time with the Orioles in the past. There is a wide open spot at third base for Machado as he is a significant upgrade over Maikel Franco, whose future role with the team is already in doubt.

Machado’s stipulation regarding “if the offers close” offers a simple solution; just outspend everybody. Owner John Middleton‘s comments about spending “stupid money” are already starting to haunt him. However, if he truly is willing to spend the money, Philadelphia is more than capable of outspending the competition to sign Machado. It depends on how much they need to outspend, but it should be well within reason.

If nothing else, this report acknowledges that while Machado may have his preferred destination, the dollars and years offered will mean much more to him.