Earlier today the Manny Machado sweepstakes came to a close. The Padres emerged victorious, landing the superstar infielder on a 10-year contract worth $300 million. The Yankees had long been connected to the shortstop, targeting him for well over a calendar year. Now, for the second time this offseason, they walked away empty-handed.
It may have taken a long time for Machado’s free agency to reach its conclusion, but one can expect that its fallout will stretch even further. From the Yankees’ perspective, the non-signing will follow them throughout the entire season and beyond.