Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Free Agency News: Yankees Concerned With Manny Machado’s Hustle Comments

Manny Machado has his sights set on a big free agency payday – and it’s likely he will get it. At the beginning of the month, he thanked the Los Angeles Dodgers with a departing tone. Now, with it a forgone conclusion he will leave the Dodgers for greener (literally) pastures; some barriers might need crossed before the payday comes.

One of the potential suitors for Machado has always been the New York Yankees. The fit undeniable, the stage set; all the Yankees need to do is want Machado back. However, David Lennon of Newsday reports that there is some angst with owner Hal Steinbrenner.



“If it’s a $300-million guy, or a $10-million guy, clearly those comments are troubling,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday at the owners meetings. “But that’s really [Brian Cashman’s] job — if we’re interested in any player — to sit down with them face to face, and the agent, and ask them, ‘Where did this come from? What was the context around the entire interview? Was there a point you were trying to make? How do you justify it?’

“Because that ain’t going to sell where we play baseball. And that conversation will happen no matter who it is.”

We touched on Machado’s lack of hustle during the postseason. It bothered an overwhelming majority of you. Would you want to allocate $300 to $400 million over the next decade to a player with these concerns? For the first time, I may find myself in total agreement with the New York Yankees.

Steinbrenner did not recant when given the opportunity to back off the initial comment regarding Machado’s style of play.

When Steinbrenner was asked if that discussion was important to the Yankees, he didn’t blink. “It’s essential — it’s not important. It’s going to happen,” he added.

Furthermore, Manny Machado is going to need to prove his make-up as a player in some shape or form this winter. This monster deal is anything but signed and delivered at this point.

Analysis

Manny Machado is coming off the best season of his big league career. He finally eclipsed the .900 OPS mark and 100-RBI plateau. At the age of 26 in the coming season, the conversation should be about everything but his lack of hustle. Nevertheless, we create our own problems in life many times. Machado is no different in this sense. There are teams out there willing to pay top dollar for Machado – but you can bet if there is one team concerned with this issue – there are several.

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2 Comments

  1. You know….I don’t care how much money you make…..or how many home runs you hit or how good defense you play…..you owe it to the game to hustle. It is that simple. Young kids are watching and they will naturally play the way their heroes play. Watch Chase Utley play…..and play the game like he does.

    It’s the greatest game on earth……… so we ought to treat it that way.

    1. I couldn’t agree with you more, their are many of us that grew up loving this game and would do anything to be on that field, let alone dream of playing major league baseball. Once you step between those white lines you owe nothing but to go 100%, and then at the end of the day you can honestly say you gave everything you have.

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