By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The offseason continues on another day without the destination of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado known for the 2019 season. The Philadelphia Phillies have long been linked to both, but for much longer than the latter player than the former.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury joined SportsRadio 94 WIP with Joe Giglio and Jack Fritz Thursday evening, and said he has received “no indication” or “sign” that the Phillies have pivoted from their longstanding interest in Machado.
“I try to read people’s actions. The Phillies have been dreaming on Manny Machado for a couple of years; [they] tried to get him in July, had him into Philadelphia, are currently in negotiations,” Salisbury said. “To me, that just feels way more down the road than things are with Bryce Harper.”
Salisbury said that he’s not saying the Phillies can at some point pivot or change their primary focus to Harper, but his current indication is that the Phillies are “still on Manny Machado, and would like to make that happen.”
Yet, if Machado chooses to go elsewhere, he thinks the Phillies would be “comfortable” with the “man, player and person” in Harper after their meeting with him last Saturday in Las Vegas.
“I think they had a great meeting. I think it was a ‘get-to-know-you’ meeting,” Salisbury said. “I think they were really impressed with the young man, with the competitor, and with the guy he is.”
Salisbury said that while the Yankees have the “deepest pockets.” the Phillies have “really deep pockets,” and “quite of a financial flexibility” and are “poised to outbid any other team to get the guy they want.”
“They’ve wanted [Machado] for a couple of years. There’s not many teams in the bidding for him. They’re one of them,” Salisbury said. “As things go down the road more and more and more, Machado’s all about the ‘benjamins’ — he wants the biggest contract he can get.”
The Chicago White Sox, among the Phillies’ strongest competitors to acquire Machado, have been clearly trying to bring the perennial All-Star infielder their way by recently signing his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso, as well as friend Jon Jay. None of that really matters in contract negotiations, according to Salisbury — it’s really all about the money.
“I don’t think the fact that his brother-in-law now plays for the White Sox has anything to do with it. I don’t think the fact that his former Baltimore people in the Phillies front office has anything to do with it,” Salisbury said. “He’s all about the money, and the Phillies are poised, I think, to give him the biggest deal.”
“They long wanted him, and this can work out just the way they wanted it. I’m not sure of it, but I think that’s the way it’s headed. I think it really could happen.”
Necessity and Demand to Sign Harper or Machado
“I think they would love to come out of this offseason with one of those two guys. I think it’s really imperative they come out of this offseason with one of those two guys, especially after the ‘stupid money’ comment — that really raised expectations and juiced up people.
Fans want one of these guys. They want one of these guys. Because of the limited amount of teams and suitors, and the fact that the Phillies have money, I think they’re going to come out with one of these guys.”
Machado or Harper — Who’s the Better Fit?
“As far as the best baseball fit, having now covered Matt Klentak for three years, you always try to read what type of a player that he values. I think he really is intrigued by having Manny Machado for the simple reason that he’s an elite defender at third base — I think he would play third base here once he gets his money. He’s going to make them better defensively, and God knows, after watching that stuff last year, they need to be better defensively.
[Machado is] also an elite offensive player, so he really moves the needle on two sides of the ball, where Harper is just not going to move the needle that much as a guy at third base would when he’s in right field.It’s just me kind of reading between the lines, I think they see Machado as a better baseball fit. Does that mean they don’t like Bryce Harper and wouldn’t shift to him if they can’t get Machado? I don’t think so, but I still think Machado is the guy they’re angling for, and kind of they prefer.”
Nature of Machado Contract Negotiations
“I still think the Dodgers are very interested in what’s happening. I think the Cubs are in a situation where once Boras has all his offers, I think the Cubs are one of those teams that are going to want to hear back from them, see where they are and see if maybe they can do something. I don’t know that they well, but I think teams would like that final check-in. I’m sure the Yankees, once Machado feels like he knows he’s one the one-yard line, I’m sure they’re going to want a phone call. …. At that point, maybe one of those teams tries to push the ball over the goal line for one of those guys.
That’s just kind of the way these things work. You always have teams running misdirection plays, laying in the weeds … I do think, at face value for both these guys, it’s a limited field. That lines up pretty well for the Phillies.”
Feasibility of Pursuing and Signing Both Harper and Machado
“It would be very tough to have two mega offers out there. It’s going to be very tough to sign both guys. I know it’s a very popular topic. I know a lot of people would like to see them sign both, but if you’ve been watching this thing … Andy MacPhail said in October, ‘that ain’t happening.’ He said that essentially, maybe not as clear-cut as that, but that it was ‘very unlikely.’ They are also on record saying they want to be a player in future free agent markets.
They also have guys they would like to extend relationships with, so signing two guys is very unlikely. My feel, trying to look at this logically and with some common sense, is that you have one mega offer out there to Manny Machado, and you’re in negotiations, tweaking that offer … very tough to have a second one out there in case they both ring your phone at the same moment.
I think they want to see what’s going to happen with Manny before they ramp up on Harper. They’ve done some due-diligence on the person in that meeting; they like the person, they like the player. I just think for a baseball fit — offensively and defensively — Machado is still where they’re focus is. Until that reaches some type of conclusion, that’s kind of where they have to stay focused until they hear back from him.”
How Much Longer Will We Have to Wait?
“We may not hear back until February, or who knows when. I can envision the Phillies having a press conference on Clearwater beach — a sunrise press conference. That tells you how long this thing might take. It might take until mid-February.”
