MLB appears to still be in high-stakes waiting game
By the time 2019 was just one day old, the New York Yankees had already landed a highly decorated, free agent shortstop via free agency. But while the signing of Troy Tulowitzki, a oncegreat player limited by injuries to just 66 games the past two seasons, is of minimal importance on its face, the rest of the industry enters the new year wondering what it all means for Manny Machado.
Because Tulowitzki, 34, was released by the Toronto Blue Jays last month, the Yankees could sign the five-time all-star to a one-year deal for the major league minimum salary, with the Blue Jays on the hook for the rest of his salary — which means the Blue Jays will be paying Tulowitzki nearly $20 million (U.S.) to wear the uniform of their American League East rivals, as- suming the Yankees decide to keep him.
And while the Yankees said the Tulowitzki signing doesn’t alter their pursuit of Machado — the 26-year-old
shortstop/third baseman who, along with outfielder Bryce Harper, also 26, is the prized target of this top-heavy free agent market — at the very least it gives them some negotiating leverage to carry into future talks with Machado.
The Yankees were in need of a shortstop as Didi Gregorius recovers from October elbow surgery, which is expected to keep him out until at least midseason. And Tulowitzki — himself coming off heel injuries that cost him all of 2018 — was the perfect, low-risk solution. He has made little effort over the years to hide his admiration for the Yankees, having chosen his uniform number — No. 2 — to honour his idol, Derek Jeter.
If Tulowitzki proves capable of filling in for Gregorius — and as many as a dozen clubs, the Yankees included, witnessed a December workout organized to showcase his apparent health — the Yankees could still sign Machado to play third base, then either trade Miguel Andujar or shift him to first base.
But the mere presence of Tulowitzki also gives the Yankees a clear escape route should they decide they don’t like the direction the Machado market is heading, and can be taken as further evidence that Machado may have to accept a smaller deal than what is available elsewhere to go to the Bronx.
As baseball comes out of the holiday slowdown, the entire shape of the off-season still hinges, as it has since the free agent market opened in November, on where and when Machado and Harper will sign.
Machado’s market is thought to consist of the Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, while Harper is believed to have the same set of suitors, with the possible additions of the L.A. Dodgers and Washington Nationals.
Though neither player appears close to making a decision, the process could accelerate this week. Machado has already met with the Yankees, Phillies and White Sox in their home cities, while Harper has been meeting with interested teams in his hometown of Las Vegas, including some during the winter meetings there last month.
ESPN reported that Harper had met multiple times with Nationals representatives in recent weeks, amid rampant industry speculation he could still return to D.C. for something near the 10-year, $300-million offer the Nationals made late last season.
The business of baseball didn’t exactly stop over the holidays, as the Seattle Mariners signed Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, with a contract that guarantees him $56 million over four years.
But two months into the offseason, the industry appears to be in a high-stakes waiting game, with Machado and Harper as the pivot points.
The slow-moving market in some ways echoes last winter, which resulted in stars such as J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer and Jake Arrieta waiting until February or even (in the case of Arrieta) March before signing.
Entering Wednesday, only 50 of the roughly 200 free agents had signed major league contracts, and only seven of those had received deals for more than two years.
As superstar hitters in their primes, Machado and Harper are immune to most of the economic forces and changes in talent evaluation that have depressed the market for older free agents.
But the futures of Machado and Harper affect those of everyone else on the marketplace, and with the flipping of the calendar to 2019, it no longer feels so early in the winter.