As the New Year approaches, a plethora of prominent MLB free agents remain unsigned. The list extends to Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, who both figure to cash in with two of the richest contracts in North American professional sports history.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers have been loosely connected to Harper, the same can’t be said for Machado. Acquired in July from the Baltimore Orioles, the expectation all along was that the 26-year-old would merely be a rental for the team.
That’s due in part to a number of factors, including the imminent return of shortstop Corey Seager. The 2016 National League Rookie of the Year is progressing well from separate Tommy John and hip surgeries, having recently resumed baseball activities at Dodger Stadium.
According to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers haven’t had contact with Machado since initially reaching out to him during the early stages of free agency:
The Dodgers reached out to Machado’s camp early in free agency, but the two sides haven’t engaged since, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
A recent report indicated that the Dodgers haven’t made any effort towards re-signing Machado. The four-time All Star’s market hasn’t been as robust as one might’ve expected, though he has garnered significant interest from East Coast clubs.
Machado recently concluded a trio of free agency visits with the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. He reportedly prefers signing with the Yankees and isn’t all that fond about playing in Philadelphia.
A decision from Machado is expected to come sometime in January, which could then open the floodgates for ensuing free agent signings.
