Manny Machado arrived at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday not as an enemy, but, for the first time, as a prospective employee.
Machado’s long-awaited visit, part of the free agent’s tour that began Monday in Chicago, where he met with the White Sox, didn’t last long, but it could have a lasting impact.
He arrived in the backseat of an SUV, driven inside the Stadium with his agent, Dan Lozano.
General manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and pitcher CC Sabathia all arrived at the Stadium shortly before Machado.
Machado emerged roughly 90 minutes later after seeing his name — and his Photoshopped likeness in a Yankees cap — on the scoreboard, and no doubt being asked about his comments and actions during the playoffs with the Dodgers.
Machado didn’t speak to reporters outside the Stadium, and whatever he saw during his brief stay in The Bronx will likely matter little in determining where he lands this offseason.
More important is what he told the Yankees — and what the Yankees told him, at both their Stadium meeting and over dinner in Manhattan.
Cashman and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner have both said they needed to hear explanations from Machado about not being “Johnny Hustle” and the fact that wasn’t going to change.
Steinbrenner called the comments “troubling” last month, adding, “That ain’t gonna sell where we play baseball. That conversation will happen no matter who it is.”
In addition, Machado spiked Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar — seemingly intentionally — during the NLCS, which led NL MVP Christian Yelich to label Machado a “dirty player.”
None of his questionable actions in October, though, dissuaded the Yankees from pursuing Machado once he hit the open market.
Not only is Machado one of the top position players to become a free agent in years, he’s also still young and plays a position where the Yankees are looking for help.
With Didi Gregorius out for at least a bulk of 2019 — if not the entire season — because of Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow following their loss in the ALDS to the Red Sox, the Yankees need a shortstop.
Machado could step in at short and provide another formidable right-handed bat to the lineup in Gregorius’ absence, keeping Gleyber Torres at second base and Miguel Andujar at third.
Gregorius is due to be a free agent following the 2019 season.
The Yankees, though, have stiff competition for Machado’s services. He was already hosted by the White Sox and is scheduled to visit the Phillies on Thursday.
Phillies owner John Middleton said earlier in the offseason that he might “be a little bit stupid” about how much money the organization spends this offseason, perhaps making the NL East team a more serious threat to sign Machado than in other years.
And Machado isn’t the only huge target on the market this free-agency period, as Bryce Harper also continues to look for a rich landing spot.
Cashman has made it clear on repeated occasions that he doesn’t consider Harper a good fit for the Yankees’ roster.
How far they will go to get Machado remains to be seen, but indications are they won’t invest $300 million over 10 years, especially after trading for Giancarlo Stanton and his mammoth contract from Miami a year ago.
For years, the Yankees seemed to be set up to open their wallet this offseason.
Machado’s trip to The Bronx on Wednesday was the next step to see if that ends up happening.