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Should the Texas Rangers Jump into the Manny Machado Mix?

By Kenneth Nash |
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning in Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 13, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning in Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 13, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 13: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning in Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 13, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 13: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning in Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 13, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

 If the Texas Rangers truly want to revamp the franchise, adding Manny Machado would be a risky but homerun signing this offseason.

The Texas Rangers are fully looking to revamp the franchise and are going about it in the right way, adding low-cost veterans and amassing a stockpile of prospects. But splashing the cash on the top free agent in the class could add a face to the franchise for the better part of the next decade and make Texas an instant competitor again.

Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are far and away the dominant names in free agent headlines this offseason. While Harper is an undeniable talent, in my opinion, Manny Machado is the more valuable of the two, at least to the Rangers.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields the ball against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields the ball against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Why Does This Make Sense For Texas?

Manny Machado is Manny Machado first and foremost. He’s a bonafide superstar and a top 10 player in the game. Oh, and he’s only 26-years old. I could end this right here and just let those statements speak for themselves. But let’s break this down a little bit…

As aforementioned, the Texas Rangers are currently in a considerable rebuild as they try to load up on young talent, specifically pitchers. In the field, they have a solid core established with the likes of Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, Nomar Mazara, and Joey Gallo. While those names create a good cast, none of them are legitimate superstars and they would take considerable development to reach that point. Adding Manny Machado would give that group their star centerpiece.

While Machado did transition to shortstop this season for the Orioles and Dodgers, long-term I believe, along with many others, that he’s a third baseman. When he’s at third, he’s an elite defender with a couple of Gold Gloves to his name. As of now, Texas has no set in stone third baseman for 2019 or the future after dealing Jurickson Profar. An infield of Machado, Andrus, Odor, and likely Guzman at first creates a defensively stout crew that can help out their pitchers immensely.

At the plate, Machado’s numbers don’t need much backing up. He’s a career .282 hitter who has been knocking on .300 the past couple of seasons. He’s got the contact and the power to go with it hitting 30+ home runs in each of the last 4 seasons. In 2018, between the Orioles and the Dodgers, Machado posted a career high .905 OPS which would’ve led the Rangers in 2018 by nearly 100 points.

If you were to stick Manny Machado in the Texas Rangers lineup, he’d also add a much needed right-handed hitting threat that Texas is desperately in search of after the retirement of Adrian Beltre. Just visualize for a second a lineup that reads Choo, Andrus, Gallo, Machado, Odor. No team in the game wants to face that group. Machado would provide some protection for Gallo who likely will have a runner on-base with Choo and Andrus hitting ahead of him. Odor anchors the middle of the order which then turns over into Kiner-Falefa, Guzman, and Delino DeShields. That’s a formidable lineup without a ton of holes. It’s a lineup that can help carry a team that is still searching for pitching and then when they find that pitching, it’s a lineup that puts them over the top.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on a three-run home run hit by Yasiel Puig #66 (not in photo) in the sixth inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on a three-run home run hit by Yasiel Puig #66 (not in photo) in the sixth inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

What Would It Take To Get It Done?

The biggest stumbling block for Jon Daniels and his willingness to get a deal done would be the hefty contract Machado is likely to get. Most recently we heard that he had an 8-year deal on the table from the White Sox. MLB Trade Rumors predicted at the beginning of the offseason that Machado would get 13 years, $390 million. While I don’t think Machado gets more than 10 years, I do think he gets more than $30 million per year.

I think the Rangers should go in at 9 years for the star player at $35 million per year. Yes, that’s an insane contract in today’s game. But Manny is only 26, already a superstar and fills a variety of needs for the club. And if you’re on the side of waiting for Nolan Arenado next offseason, Arenado is over a year older and probably won’t be much cheaper considering he asked for $30 million in arbitration with the Rockies. If Machado wants to adjust, I’d have leeway of a year in either direction on the length. The value shouldn’t be any higher though.

Additionally, as you might have noticed, in a lineup featuring Machado above, Nomar Mazara was not included. I think to get this deal done, Texas has to trade Nomar this offseason. No Mazara isn’t a financial restraint for Texas right now but signing Machado would signal a sure plan meaning it would be time for a decision in the outfield. Trading Mazara would allow Texas to bring in a quality, young starter that could help pretty much immediately and put the rebuild into the next gear.

Obviously, there’s a lot of moving pieces in this and some big hurdles meaning the likelihood is slim. While we probably won’t get to see this, if Jon Daniels has any interest in Nolan Arenado next offseason, he should shift his attention to Machado, who could be the face of the Texas Rangers for years to come.

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