The Manny Machado sweepstakes have come to an end and it’s the Padres — not the White Sox — who are the big winners.
The Padres and Machado agreed Tuesday to a 10-year, $300 million contract, according to multiple reports. It’s the biggest free-agent contract in the history of American sports.
The contract, which is still pending a physical, was first reported by MLB.com.
It was previously reported that Machado was considering all factors when determining what team he would go to, including their future outlook. As of Monday, the Sox remained a “strong factor” in the race for Machado, but they have apparently fallen short in their pursuit of the star third baseman.
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Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams said he was “very surprised” and “still in a bit of disbelief” upon hearing the news of Machado’s deal. As early as Tuesday morning, Williams said the Sox felt they had the “best offer on the table.” He also commended Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf for steeping up “in a fashion that is unprecedented.”
“I feel we put our best foot forward,” Williams told reporters. “If the acceptance of the offer that I’m seeing is true, then actually our offer had the opportunity for Manny to surpass that. But in the end, we went after the guy and we didn’t get him. We’re disappointed.”
The Sox did just about everything in their power to entice Machado to join their club. They signed his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and friend Jon Jay, although general manager Rick Hahn said the two players’ ties to Machado weren’t the reason they were acquired.
But at the end of the day, Williams said the Sox could “not go to that $300 million level.”
“We have to project putting together a winning roster, a total winning roster,” he said.
Williams said he felt this a.m. like White Sox might have a deal: "We thought we were the high offer on the table and we still feel if the reports are accurate, we still feel that there was more potential for him to make more here than that reported deal."
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) February 19, 2019
Regardless, the Sox were preparing for life without Machado at spring training. During infield drills at their first full-squad workout Monday, manager Rick Renteria had Yoan Moncada, who played second last season, exclusively working at third, where Machado would’ve played. Yolmer Sanchez took Moncada’s place at second and Tim Anderson was at shortstop.
With the Machado saga over, the Sox are going to “keep moving forward.”
“The reason we were after the young man in the first place is because we feel good about where we are and where we’re going in the first place,” Williams said. “So that doesn’t change, we’re trying to accelerate the curve a little bit but we’re still going to take steps forward.”
