The Yankees Don't Need Manny Machado

Last year, around this time, I wrote a lengthy post on here, explaining the various reasons why we didn't need the guy that would end up becoming an integral part of our 2018 squad. The main reason I didn't want the Yankees to just snap up Giancarlo Stanton is because we're at an age where we don't NEED to rely on snapping up big contracts and stars just because we can. We can easily produce winning teams by not spending a ton on free agents (hey, it worked in '96!), and with this youth movement of Judge, Severino, Torres and Andujar, as well as low-cost young players like Didi Gregorius and Luke Voit, we don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money to be great when we're already in pretty nice shape.

And that minimalistic ideology constantly clashes with the Yankees' constant longing to be the best by spending the most. And it's clashing once again right now, as Brian Cashman is working on a mega-contract for the next big free agent, Manny Machado.

Now...from a distance, you can sort of see why the Yankees would need a Manny Machado in 2019. Didi Gregorius will be out next year, getting Tommy John surgery, and there will be a gaping hole at shortstop. The logical, immediate solution would be to use professional infielder Ronald Torreyes as our starter next year, and as he's started games before, it's not the worst idea. But is it...a Yankees idea? Is just getting a guy in-house to play shortstop when we could simply sign a guy to play shortstop for a longer period of time than either a low-priced backup or the current starter who, injury aside, is doing a bang-up job...a really good idea?

Cashman seems to think so. And apparently Machado has nixed several deals for a lot of money from the Yankees thus far, even if we haven't been given the exact details quite yet. So it looks like Cashman is pulling to get this guy...and it doesn't look like Machado especially wants to come here.

And honestly, it's because both sides have better fits elsewhere. Machado would fit much better into an offense like Philadelphia, or potentially a team out of the conversation. Plus, as the Phils' GM just announced he's ready to spend 'stupid money' this offseason, it's a giveaway that he wants Machado. It's also kinda obvious, at least from July, that Machado might want to play here. I'm not saying this just because I'm from Philly, this is all out there. It's a good guess at this point.

Also...for the Yankees, there are a TON better options for shortstop out there, at least on a short-term. First of all, Adeiny Hechavarria was a fantastic fill-in at short last year, and he'd be a cheap enough one year replacement. Everyone would love to have him back. If Cashman wants to spend a little more on a one-year deal, there's the case of Freddy Galvis or Jose Iglesias, both of whom would be a nice defensive fit in NY, as well as providing some cool offensive numbers. Plus, if you save money on shortstop, that frees up money to pursue a starting pitching option (like Patrick Corbin, Lance Lynn or...I dunno, there are a ton out there).

The bottom line is this is a very lowest-common-denominator deal by the Yankees, and it's definitely worth looking at from all aspects before making a serious go at it. Cashman needs to seriously consider the consequences of signing someone like Machado, like the lack of funds for other 2018 offseason purchases, the expendability of Didi, and the general douchiness surrounding Machado's 2018 finish.

Even as a Yankee fan, I'm saying the Yankees have a ton better options than signing Machado. And unlike Giancarlo Stanton, I'd rather not be wrong on this one.