TAMPA — Carlos Beltran knows something about signing a huge free-agent contract, and while he seemed a bit stunned when he heard the news Manny Machado had agreed to a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres, he insisted it wasn’t a shock.
But he also believes an older Machado would have made a different decision.
“When you become a free agent, especially the first time around, I don’t blame him that he went to the team [that offered] the most money,’’ Beltran said Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field in his new role as a Yankees special adviser. “He’s trying to secure his future. I think $300 million will do that for him pretty well.”
Beltran laughed as he said it, before adding: “I do believe one thing: As a player, at the stage where he is, I can understand why he ended up in San Diego. If this would have been his second time around [as a free agent], I don’t think he’d end up in San Diego. I’m not trying to take anything away from them, but there are only like five teams in baseball that aim to win every single year.”
The Padres, he noted, aren’t one of them.
Beltran, who was represented by Machado’s agent, Dan Lozano, for the latter part of his career, was at the December dinner when the Yankees hosted Machado in New York.
“I thought we had a pretty good chance to get him,” Beltran said of the meeting, although he acknowledged he wasn’t aware of what Machado was seeking or what the Yankees might have offered.
And Machado’s deal with San Diego means Giancarlo Stanton still has the most expensive contract in the sport — at least until Bryce Harper signs.
A day after expressing concerns about MLB’s slow-moving free agency, Stanton added that Machado’s newfound riches don’t change the landscape for the vast majority of players.
“That’s great for him, but I still think — even though he got his money and Harper will get his money — this is a big decision for clubs,” Stanton said. “It’s just odd. Guys hitting 30-plus homers are going year-to-year and have to wait for spring training.”
Stanton said he didn’t know what changed about the process since he signed a 13-year, $325 million deal that allowed him to avoid arbitration following the 2014 season.
“They’re doing some interesting things,” Stanton said of how organizations are handling free agency. “We’ve got to figure it out. It’s not good. It’s not good on the players’ side.”
The current collective bargaining agreement doesn’t end until after the 2021 season.
“We’ve got time,” Stanton said. “We’ll have our yearly meetings [with the union] and get some issues across and see what happens. We’ll figure it out.”
As per Yankees team rules Clint Frazier had to remove his nose stud before taking the field for the team’s first full-squad workout Tuesday.
The Yankees don’t allow studs or earrings during workouts or games.
Hal Steinbrenner attended a clubhouse meeting before the first full-squad workout but didn’t address the team. Boone and Cashman did speak.
“Lay out my expectations and how important I think the culture is, basically that sort of message,’’ Boone said of his talk.
Tino Martinez and Willie Randolph were on the field for infield drills. … Didi Gregorius fielded ground balls at short during infield drills but didn’t make a throw as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
With Jacoby Ellsbury not expected to be ready for the regular season, Frazier has a chance to make the club out of spring training after experiencing a nightmare 2018 when he started the season on the seven-day disabled list because of a concussion suffered in spring training. He went back on the shelf July 16 due to concussion issues and on Sept. 18 went on the 60-day DL. In 15 big-league games Frazier batted .265.
Aaron Judge sent a batting practice pitch over the hitter’s background in center field during his first round, in which he hit with Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez. Judge also sprayed the seats in right-center field with souvenirs for the fans.
The combination of mid-80s heat and thick humidity made for an uncomfortable first full-squad workout. On the flip side it was easy for the players to get loose.
Miguel Andujar and DJ LeMahieu looked slick at third base during infield drills. Andujar’s feet moved very well and his arm angle was up from a year ago. LeMahieu, a second baseman who will get time at third, was impressive fielding bunts and throwing to first.
Wednesday’s schedule: Infielders and pitchers will work on fielding plays on the back field and hitters will take BP on the main field.