Free agency in baseball is in full swing, and the two most coveted prizes have not yet been signed. Manny Machado and Bryce Harper still have not decided where they will call home but the Chicago White Sox are doing all they can to make sure Machado is in Chicago. They offered the 26-year-old a deal for eight years, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The race for Machado looks like it is down to two teams: the White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia has emerged as the favorites to land Harper after they met for five hours in Harper’s hometown of Las Vegas. That does not mean they will be out on Machado but it gives the White Sox a small advantage.
Chicago has never made a deal like this. Jose Abreu signed a six-year, $68 million deal, which is the largest in franchise history. Giancarlo Stanton set the precedent when he signed a 13-year deal worth $325 million with the Miami Marlins. Moving forward, all big-name free agents will be looking for a deal near double-digit years to ensure themselves security.
Neither Machado nor Harper have hinted at where they plan on signing, but it is possible that they both receive record-breaking money. The White Sox have made their desire to sign Machado clear by bringing in his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and friend Jon Jay. Whether it is Chicago, Philadelphia or a surprise team, whoever signs Machado will be getting a player who can be a cornerstone for a franchise for many years to come.
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