It makes absolutely no sense. 2 centerfielders too, lol.
Machado for 3 months vs Russell for 3 years. If it’s as simple as that it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Can they sign and trade and lock him in longer? I’ll have to read a bit more to learn the rest of it.
Machado's agent is Boras, The odd's of him agreeing to any extension type deal would literally be historic . The ONLY ammo Cubs have for that is AAJ. He and Manny are great friends, (like cousin's according to AAJ & have dreamt of being on the same MLB team~sound familiar KB/Harper?)...first off, while Machado's offense is better, he is not a SS yet and Addie's defense (when healthy) is above Machodo. Everybody good with moving KB from 3b while Machado gets his bearing's..heading to play-off's? Pretty risky especially since offense and defense have to keep making up for pitching woes. Move KB to RF? Over JHey's defense heading to P/O's? JHey's arm >KB's. Bullpen walking a thin line on being healthy and not burnt out by Sept. Cub's infield Wall of Wonder is very, VERY good. A deal would likely take Addie + a prospect, or Monty..maybe Butler or could even be Bote. (that we don't have/can't give up).if ANY of that way too pricey. When Machado leaves there will be a nice hole in that wall of wonder and in the lineup putting Theo in a position to fill it along with pitching.Everyone screaming for Harper? Well, he isn't an infielder and as unbelievable as Javy is, he can't play 2nd & SS at the same time. So, move Happ to 2B, make AAJ your starting CF. So this year you have Machado as your offesive ringer and maybe Harper next year, if you get him . It's that IF that is brutal. I know Theo is very , very good at getting his guy, but he didn't get Verlander, he didn't get Ohthani, and both Wilson and Darvish with huge struggle once getting here, same could happen with Machado, or an injury. Plus he will be facing NL pitching. I know JHey's contract allows some $ to free up in '19 but not THAT much. Cub's have the $ but the threshold is the issue hand-cuffing them.The FA market is going to be a pretty sweet one, and lot's of teams are going to be competing. The Sox would love Machado and they have the prospects to offer up, but they would prob just flip Machado and Oriole's will make sure that is not allowed in the trade terms. Not to mention Manny not exactly looking to leave one basement team to go to another rebuild. While Addie would be a fantastic player for Baltimore, they need prospects and lots of them so I don't see them getting everything they need for Machado from the Cubs.
All that said, only privy to outside info, as always there is way more to this and I will be proven wrong, lol. Thing is, 50% of what got this team (what's left of it) that W.S was the way they gelled. Piece by piece that is being redone and the growing pains continue. They are all still SO young that no one seems to be allowing consideration for individual growth along with the team growth, I mean, look at Rizzo...a thing as simple as Hinske no longer there sure looks like it has had an effect...another change so soon on something as important as the infield could be costly in every way. Bottom line, I don't think for 3 months, it is worth it. Focus on pitching..because Lester isn't gonna last forever.
ETA: this is like, verbatim what AAJ said last week(except AAJ said *like* cousin's)
Bruce Levine @MLBBruceLevine
Manny Machado talked here today . He said this about playing with his cousin Albert Almora jr” we talked about playing together when we were growing up and winning a World Series together . That is every kids dream.”
ETA:looks like Machado fired Boras and is a client of Dan Lozano-(another skeevy, possibly even worse than Bora$$ piece of work) now...and Lozano is not opposed to his client's doing extension deals..Votto as an example. However, I still think he would prefer to test free agency ~but the Cubs DO take care of their players/players families. Still doesn't change my mind on it's too costly to get him , as in not only losing Addie but facing the upcoming costs of Rizzo, Baez, Willy, KB, etc. AAJ will have to take a big discount if he wants his buddy, lol..just like KB will have to to get Harper(who will just get hurt as soon as the ink dries)