The Yankees' pursuit of Manny Machado has been slow to say the least, as GM Brian Cashman hasn't taken a real leap at the All-Star infielder. However, they have always been in the race for his services next season despite the lack of urgency.
Cashman and the Yankees, though, did discuss numbers with Machado, and former Mets GM Jim Duquette found out what the price range was.
"What I was told here recently was the Yankees' offer -- these aren't out there not necessarily in writing, but hypothetical -- was somewhere in that seven-year, eight-year range for $220 million."
As Duquette points out, that is the range others were offering Machado, but it doesn't come as a surprise. The Yankees were never expected to be the highest bidder for Machado, and they had their Plan B lined up with Troy Tulowitzki coming in at the veteran minimum price tag to take over in Didi Gregorius' absence. D.J. LeMahieu was also recently signed to add more infield depth.
There is still no sign as to where Machado will end up, and we're only a few days away from Spring Training beginning in Florida and Arizona. Whether or not the Yankees are in the mix still is unknown, but general partner Hal Steinbrenner said recently not to count the Yankees out until Opening Day...