Didi Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery late last season, making Machado a viable candidate to take his place until he returns in the summer. Since being traded from the Orioles to the Dodgers, Machado posted a .297 batting average, .397 OBP, .534 slugging percentage, .901 OPS, 37 home runs, 107 RBIS, and a wRC+ of 141- all career highs. The only concern for many major league clubs is the fact that he lacks hustle which came to fruition most significantly in the postseason. Another issue specifically for the Yankees is the high contract that he is seeking which is around the 10 year, $300M range. This would impact the Yankees luxury tax maximum, but as they stated before, it would not affect their chase to become a championship caliber ball-club.
Overall, adding Manny Machado to the Yankee lineup would make them better in the long run despite the concerns surrounding him as a player. There is also Miguel Andujar who plays third base currently, and if they would trade him for another starting pitcher or keep him in pinstripes depending on the trade market. It will be interesting to see where he decides to play this year as the Yankees, Phillies, and White Sox are the teams most interested in his services.
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