Yankees Still Favored to Sign Manny Machado; White Sox Linger

• The New York Yankees are expected to bolster their in field by signing free agent Manny Machado
• The 26-year old hit .297 with 37 home runs and 107 RBIs last year with the Orioles and Dodgers
• Machado has finished in the top 5 in MVP voting twice in his career

The Yankees’ $193 million payroll could be getting a whole lot bigger.

Sportsbooks believe New York will break open its piggy bank soon to sign free agent infielder Manny Machado. One sportsbook is giving the Yankees a slight edge over the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies. All four teams have been courting the four-time All-Star since the 2018 season came to an end.

Manny Machado Free Agency Odds

The Yankees Odds Are Slipping

It should be noted that the +100 odds available in one sportsbook is considerably longer than they were on November 30th, when the Yankees were the odds-on favorites to snap up Machado at -150. Back then, oddsmakers figured the 26-year-old infielder would likely sign a contract within a matter of days and report to his new team for a celebratory press conference.

It is January 24th. Spring Training games begin in a month.

Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel are all still free agents. pic.twitter.com/P5wC1zn55M

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 24, 2019

However, like many of this winter’s free agents, Machado has found that the market for his services has not been as competitive as he had hoped. The two-time Gold Glover and his representatives have met with the Yankees, White Sox, and Phillies, but have been consistently underwhelmed by the offers they have received, including a reported eight-year, $250 contract from Chicago.

Report: The White Sox offered free agent shortstop Manny Machado an eight-year, $250 million deal #MLB pic.twitter.com/GdxQhwzwaV

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 10, 2019

Despite being spurned, the Yankees have continued to communicate with Machado and remain hopeful they can have him in pinstripes by the time Spring Training begins. If they’re lucky enough to secure his services they’ll almost certainly jettison incumbent third baseman Miguel Andujar to make room at the hot corner. The Dominican native hit .297 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI in his first full season in the Bronx, and would be a useful trade chip for the club despite his well documented lapses on defense.

Who Will Sign Machado?

The Yankees will always be mentioned when marquee free agents become available, but no team has done more to land Machado than the White Sox. In addition to offering him a contract that dwarfs the GDP of many countries, Chicago has also gone out of its way to sign some of his closest friends and confidants.

The club traded for Machado’s brother-in-law, Yonder Alonso, in mid-December, and signed his BFF, Jon Jay, in early January. The three players train together in Miami in the offseason and have surely discussed the possibility of teaming up.

Sox adding Yonder Alonso and Jon Jay without signing Manny Machado is like ordering a BLT without the bacon. Now they have to bring in the bacon.

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) January 8, 2019

The White Sox have shown a brazen willingness to do anything and everything to make Machado feel at home.  Snap them up at +200 before this prop disappears.