MLB OFF-SEASON HOT STOVE THREAD

I think Machado’s value to SD is primarily in marketing. Secondarily, he’s a veteran they can build around. Question whether or not he’s the kind of veteran you’d prefer to do that with, but they just gave their answer. To me, he’s not Chili Davis, Tim Raines or CC Sabathia.

But these guys always made more sense going to a mediocre team looking to market itself to fans as competitive as compared to a very good team looking to be 2-3 wins better than they were last year.

The Phillies announced before the offseason that spending money was in and of itself their strategy both on the field and as marketing. I totally believe that they had a plan to acquire Corbin, Machado and Harper and might have done it if all were amenable.

The Padres have one of the top three farm systems with a bevy of players due at the big league level in the next couple of years. I think they over payed in terms of years, so I’m glad the Yankees didn’t bite, although I was certainly all aboard so up to six years or even seven. He obviously was going where he was offered top dollar and as a player, you certainly can’t blame him for that. He probably had to agree not to opt out until after he turns 31 though which under the present economic realities means that his value will never be higher than now. The Padres are probably two years away from being contenders and with their entire hopes resting on top prospects succeeding at the highest rung, it’s pretty iffy. Machado does have the benefit of living in a very pleasant area with laid back fans, great food and a lot of money in his pocket which will allow his hot wife to jump on a plane and visit NY city where she purportedly loves to be.

Not to mention that Randy Johnson was the 4th best pitcher by WAR in the American League in 2005. This is one noetsi harps on as a FA miss quite often but that trade really was just fine (not to mention as GF said, it wasnt a free agent signing).

CC was a great free agent signing. As bad as ARod was in the last couple of seasons (he was still an above average hitter who needed to be respected through 2015) and for all his faults, they dont win the 2009 World Series without him. Same goes for Teixeira (his body betrayed him early but he had 5 of 8 years strong). Matsui was a great free agent signing. Giambi was an extremely productive hitter for the Yankees. Mussina was a free agent signing, perhaps the best of the bunch. Damon was valuable. Masahiro Tanaka was a free agent signing. Winfield, Goose, Catfish and Reggie if you want to go further back...and the oft forgotten Jimmy Key. David Cone following 1995 (trade then FA signing when they re-upped him). Boggs was a free agent signing. And David Wells, and Hiroki Kuroda, and El Duque. Even Sheffield put up big numbers for most of his tenure. Even in recent years Beltran, Chapman, Andrew Miller were productive signings.

There have been a share of duds of course but that is more a function of the Yankees always being heavily involved in the free agent market which will create volume by default. You have your Pavanos and Burnetts and Ellsburys but this narrative of constant swings and misses in free agency for the Yankees simply isnt true.

I don't necessarily think it is a bad deal for SD, although I don't know much about their budget or revenue. If they have room for it, they might go get Keuchel as well and they'd have a veteran pitcher and middle of the lineup bat to build around with their young talent. That at least makes them relevant again, and if Machado opts out in a few years they're probably fortunate.

Sounds like the Yanks never seriously considered Machado

Yanks play SD this season interleague.