Huge Machado deal doesn’t rattle Zaidi
Whether Giants sign Harper is separate issue
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The rest of the National League West snapped to attention Tuesday when word spread that the San Diego Padres landed one of the two whales in this year’s free-agent market, reportedly agreeing to a 10-year, $300 million contract with shortstop Manny Machado.
The other four teams, including the Giants, know what that means.
“The Padres definitely got better getting a guy like him,” Brandon Crawford said. “He’s definitely somebody you have to worry about in the lineup.” Nineteen times a year. Worrying about Machado is not the same as Giants President Larry Baer screaming down Interstate 5 to agent Scott Boras’ office in Southern California, with investor Charles Johnson’s checkbook in hand, ready to give the other big whale whatever he wants.
The Giants have never played Keep Up With the Joneses, not under Brian Sabean, not under Bobby Evans, and apparently they won’t under Farhan Zaidi. Without mentioning Bryce Harper by
name, Zaidi said the Giants do not feel compelled to make a huge move to counter Machado.
“I don’t think it really changes how we’re viewing our team and what we might still do with it, especially when you start talking about a move that might not be just about 2019, but might impact your roster five years or 10 years out,” Zaidi said.
“You want to make sure you’re making the right decision for your organization and not doing it in a reactionary way.”
In other words, the Harper pursuit will stand on its own, a factor of how much ownership is willing to spend, how much other teams will offer, Zaidi’s assessment of the baseball value and extenuating circumstances.
Those might include the team’s need to make a splash ahead of the Warriors moving down the street or the fear of losing out on a potential generational player at a time when the Giants are generating little buzz or optimism.
In one way, the Giants’ chances worsened Tuesday because the Phillies, who all but promised to sign either Machado or Harper with the “stupid money” the owner pledged to spend, must feel enormous pressure to get Harper at any cost.
That might mean spending even stupider money.
On the other hand, if Harper is not keen on the Phillies for whatever reason, the Giants gained ground because he lost another potential landing spot in San Diego.
Machado’s signing, and Harper’s sure-to-be richer deal, could loosen what is left of the free-agent market and spur trades that teams have suspended until they saw where the big boys went.
Zaidi said he is done adding depth. Now, deals would center on “improving our frontline roster.”
He cautioned that the later the date, the less likely deals become.
“The free-agent pool is obviously getting smaller,” Zaidi said. “Teams are getting more reluctant to move pieces unless it’s an obvious area of surplus for them, so we’re keeping both avenues open.”
Meanwhile, the division must come to grips with Machado committing to San Diego for at least five years before his opt-out, joining a team that is silly with good prospects.
“When you see a guy like that knowing you’ve got to face him 19 times, it makes our job a lot tougher,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who had Machado for part of 2018.
Roberts nonetheless sees the move as “a great thing for baseball.”
“So much has been said about what we need to do as an industry, but to see a midmarket team going after a player with years and dollars is good for our game.”
Giants manager Bruce Bochy shied away from any strong reaction and said, “I’ve got enough (to deal with) here. He’s like Harper, a great player. Whoever they sign with is going to be a better team.”