Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The exact terms of the Chicago White Sox offer to Manny Machado are not known -- you might have noticed some drama about that topic Wednesday -- but some new details of their discussions could offer a roadmap to the Yankees, if they want to jump back into the Machado sweepstakes.

The sides have at least discussed a contract structure that would allow Chicago to exercise an option after year three that would trigger team control for an eighth or ninth year, according to major league sources. This probably accounts for some of the confusion over whether Machado has a seven or eight year offer on the table. He has likely been offered a contract that could be either.

In that structure, Machado would get to opt out after 2021 if the team doesn't opt in. The Yankees and Zach Britton recently agreed to that structure, which Britton's agent Scott Boras called a "swellopt," in an interview with Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.

"For the club, if the player performs well, the club can opt in (contract swells)," Boras told Rosenthal. "For the player, if the club doesn't opt in, the player has the choice to continue with contract (swell) or opt out. It's a swell option for both."

For the Yankees, who like Machado as a player but have remained reluctant about committing for upwards of a decade, a Machado swellopt could be appealing. They could see how the first three years go, and then decide whether to marry Machado or break up with him.

The Yanks haven't been much engaged on Machado since the holidays, and have been busy acquiring other infielders. But they have never said they were "out."

Team sources have always characterized their interest in Machado as higher than in Bryce Harper.

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