As we tread on through the offseason, several teams are looking for more missing pieces for 2019. Teams like the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros will have much smoother roads than other franchises. Not to mention the likes of previously mentioned squads should have these missing pieces in their hands, given their recent successes.
But for those teams not so fortunate, they are searching for any and every way to snatch up big names. If they were to accomplish this, the question still remains: will it be enough? Seeing Manny Machado on several teams’ radar has no doubt helped bring this question into the light.
MLB Pieces: Machado? Or No Machado?
Probably
One of the several teams seeking out the two-way star is the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia has brought big names in recent weeks, including Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura. Adding pieces like Machado in their infield, alongside Segura, could compose a shutdown infield and potentially a top-tier defense. Machado’s batting could give the Phillies’ offense a boost, as well. Not only did the Phillies have the league’s lowest team batting average last season, but they also rank in the bottom half of the majors in RBIs. Machado could bring in a much-needed big bat back to Philadelphia, like the days of Ryan Howard.
Not Really
The New York Yankees are in the Machado sweepstakes as well. But there are several factors to consider before saying “Machado is the perfect piece for the Pinstripes”. For one thing, where to put Machado would be an issue. Gleyber Torres and Miguel Aguilar both occupy the third baseman and shortstop positions: Machado’s fortes. Not to mention, putting Machado in the outfield is not an option. Not only do the Pinstripes have a stacked outfield, but also Machado would be out of his element. The second factor that may not help is payroll. During the 2018 season, the New York Yankees had 10 players with a base salary of $10 million or more. Though payroll is not usually an issue for the Yankees, it could be with Machado or Harper. Either Machado will have to substantially lower his asking price or the Yankees will have to do a lot of shifting and trading around.
Unfortunately, No
The Chicago White Sox are also in the hunt for Machado., but they have too many things going against them that even having Machado may not help with. First, the White Sox have much bigger needs to tend, one of them being their pitching staff. Last season, the White Sox had the fifth highest team ERA, second-most runs allowed by a pitcher and fourth fewest saves credited by a pitcher. In addition, the White Sox have the third lowest 25-man and total payroll for 2019. Not to mention, they had the second lowest in 2018. Their defense is bottom of the list, as well, but the pitching staff have more missing pieces in it. Overall, the White Sox need a lot more than Machado to bring them back into fighting form.
MLB Pieces: The Latest Moves and Rumors
ESPN reported that Michael Brantley has found a new home with the Houston Astros. The 31-year old left-fielder has signed a two-year contract worth $32M. The three-time All-Star spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians prior to the signing. He and catcher Robinson Chirinos are among Houston’s latest acquisitions. Chirinos will be succeeding Brian McCann after the latter returns to the Atlanta Braves.
In other news, The Texas Rangers have announced the signing of pitcher, Lance Lynn, on Tuesday. Lone Star Ball indicated that Texas and Lynn have agreed to a three-year $30 million deal. Lynn had brief stints with the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees in the 2018 season. Lynn was also an All-Star and World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. This was a much-needed move made by the Rangers, when you consider the poor outing the pitching staff had in 2018. Texas ranked 28th in the majors for team ERA and batting average allowed. Lynn may not be the solution to all of their pitching problems, but it is a step in the right direction, albeit a small one.
Featured image courtesy of Chicago Tribune
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