Machado’s A Padre, Harper Snubs Dodgers For Philly, Is Trout Gone?
Jubilation is soaring in San Diego.
Disappointment has reared its ugly head in Los Angeles.
And sighs of relief followed by soul searching is on the rise in Anaheim.
Emotions Run Amok
This is what free agent movement in major league baseball can do to you.
Manny Machado signs a 10-year, $300 million contract and Padre fans scoop up $1 million worth of tickets in just 48 hours.
Yet Bryce Harper turns his back on a four year, $180 million offer from the Dodgers.
So instead of earning an astronomical $45 million a year in Los Angeles, Harper chose to accept an offer from the Phillies for $330 million spread over 13 seasons.
You do the math!
Dumbfounded Decision
“Wherever he landed (Los Angeles, San Francisco or Philadelphia), ultimately, we were going to have to make an adjustment,” shrugged Dodger manager Dave Roberts.
Harper apparently felt Philadelphia was the best location for his family.
Huh!
Harper is a Las Vegas native. His wife Kayla was born in Henderson.
And how long is that flight from L.A. to Nevada? Or from Arizona, where the Dodgers train?
What am I missing here?
Ulterior Motive
It couldn’t be that Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia is hitter friendly, could it?
With 14 home runs in just 50 games, the 26-year old outfielder could end up mashing 295 round trippers during his career in Pennsylvania.
And that doesn’t take into account the 1,053 games he could play on the road over the life of his contract.
Watch out Barry Bonds. Harper is coming after you!
Still, I have to side with Dodger president Andrew Friedman on this one.
Let’s Ask Arte?
No way would I have given Harper anywhere close to 13 years.
Hey, has anybody checked with Arte Moreno to see how that 10 year, $240 million contract he gave Albert Pujols has worked out?
If it hadn’t been for the American League’s designated hitter, Pujols’ career might have been invisible.
In seven summers in Anaheim, the 39-year old native of the Dominican Republic has taken his glove out to first base just 67 times a year.
Pujols has missed 147 games due to injuries, and spent 517 games as the team’s DH.
He was 32 when he took his first swings as an Angel.
Mike Trout is 27.
He will become a free agent after the 2020 season.
What does Arte do?
Complete Opposites
Unlike Harper, Trout is an east coast guy.
Both he and wife Jessica were born in Millwood, New Jersey.
Millwood is about 45 miles from Philadelphia. Trout and his wife go home for the winter.
Mike is a big Eagles’ fan. He even has season tickets.
And it was rumored he might listen to what the Phillies had to say when he becomes a free agent.
With Harper in the fold however, Philadelphia now seems like an unlikely destination.
Not in Bryce’s eyes. Or should I say his voice.
The National League’s 2015 Most Valuable Player has already gone on the local airwaves lobbying Trout to join him with the Phillies.
Right Up The ‘5’
But what about the Dodgers?
Despite luxury thresholds and competitive balance taxes, the Dodgers always seem to be able to put together attractive financial packages.
More importantly, Trout wants to play for a winner.
And the Dodgers have appeared in the last two World Series.
Yes they lost to Houston and Boston, but at least they got there!
0-For-7
In his seven full seasons with the Angels, Trout’s gone to the playoffs just once. And he’s win less.
The year was 2014 when Mike Trout won his first Most Valuable Player award.
Anaheim had the best record in baseball (98-64).
But wild card Kansas City swept them right out of the divisional round (3-0).
Lengthy Drought
The Angels haven’t sniffed the playoffs since.
In the last four seasons, the Angels have finished second, third and fourth (twice).
And since 2015, they’ve finished at least 21 games out of first place.
The ball’s in your court Arte!
It’s time to step up and put a winner on the field.
The Pressure’s On
The Angels need to compete this season.
In the perfect scenario, the Angels get to the post season next fall and then advance deep into the playoffs.
All of a sudden, Trout is offered a 10-year, $350 million contract laden with incentives (MVPs, Golden Glove, Silver Slugger, etc).
If however, that doesn’t happen, Trout might eschew negotiating a contract extension and look elsewhere.
In that case, the Angels only alternative would be to trade Trout.
Any transaction would command a couple of every day major league players in addition to an attractive assortment of top notch prospects.
Could Blue Pull It Off?
Los Angeles has the assets to put together an enticing package.
This year’s Dodgers farm system is ranked No. 7 by MLB Pipeline.
San Diego ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row.
Yet the Padres are more inclined to surround its young core with established veteran leaders in their attempt to become relevant.
Will Myers.
Eric Hosmer.
Ian Kinsler.
Manny Machado.
Ton Of Talent
San Diego has an MLB record 10 prospects in the Top 100.
Heading that list is Fernando Tatis Jr. the No. 2 overall pick, who figures to position himself in the vicinity of Machado on the left side of the infield.
Joey Luicchesi, Franchy Cordero and Eric Lauer graduated last year.
Tatis Jr. tops this year’s class.
Youth Movement
Left handed pitcher Mackenzie Gore, shortstop, second base man Luis Urias, catcher, outfielder Francisco Mejia and right handed pitcher Chris Paddock round out the Top Five.
Paddock could be on the Opening Day roster.
And visitors to Petco Park might also see Urias and Mejia sometime this summer.
Meanwhile pitchers Logan Allen, Cal Quantrill and Jacob Nix are waiting in the wings.
As bright as the future appears, Machado represents the present.
Last season with Baltimore and the Dodgers, the 26-year old third basemen hit .297, crushed 37 home runs and knocked home 107 teammates.
Came Out Of No Where
The journey from Los Angeles to San Diego didn’t happen over night.
“Manny Machado wasn’t even on our radar. When A.J. (Preller Executive Vice President, General Manager) and his lieutenants sat down at the end of the season and narrowed the list of free agents we might be interested in down to 100, Manny wasn’t on it.
“We thought we could trade for a young and controllable third baseman, but they were asking for Fernando Tatis Jr. or MacKenzie Gore, and we weren’t doing that.” said General Partner Peter Seidler.
“But suddenly they (the front office) got excited, and A.J. brought the possibility to Ron (Fowler, Executive Chairman) and me.
“A.J. started doing his due diligence, and the most important thing was that everyone, from managers to coaches to players to equipment managers to clubhouse boys to anyone who’s been involved with Manny, said he comes to play every day.
“The bottom line is that, Manny’s a ballplayer’s ballplayer.” said Seidler.
Checkered Past
But not without baggage!
He’s his own man who does what HE wants when HE wants.
Like on the national stage in last season’s Fall Classic.
Manny didn’t feel like giving it 100 percent so he trotted to first base after hitting an infield grounder.
“A.J. went through that with him,” Seidler remembered. “He shows up every day and plays hard. There is no concern.”
Really?
Nevada Not Impressed
Las Vegas, like everybody else, was watching.
Before they signed Machado, San Diego’s 2019 win total was projected at 77. Afterwards, that total skyrocketed all the way up to an whopping 79!
That seems about right to me.
Let’s remember Padre faithful, this just wasn’t a very good baseball team.
How Low Can You Go!
San Diego won 66 games last season..
Not only did they trail fourth place San Francisco by seven games, but they finished 25 1/2 games out of first place.
Granted, the future is EXTREMELY bright. I’ll give you that.
And Manny Machado is OOZING with talent.
Yet ONE player does not make a team.
However, one thing is adamantly clear: Manny Mania is alive, well and flourishing in ‘America’s Finest City’!
The San Diego Union Tribute And OC Register Contributed To This Article
Image: (Getty Images)
John Stellman
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