At the MLB Winter Meetings Dec. 5-8, the Baltimore Orioles' need to fill holes at catcher and in right field, as well as their free-agent pursuit of last year's right fielder Mark Trumbo, were the topics du jour. But star third baseman Manny Machado's free-agency clock, and the Orioles' future decisions with that in mind, continues to be the elephant in the room.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Dec. 5 that, according to a "high-ranking" Washington Nationals executive, Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper wants a 10-year, $400 million deal to bypass free agency. Nightengale also reported the club has no intention of matching his request.
Harper and Machado are scheduled to hit free agency after the 2018 season. They'd hit the free-agent market at 26 years old as two of the best players in the game. The two players are represented by different agents -- Harper by Scott Boras and Machado by Dan Lozano -- but both players would be expected to hit the jackpot in free agency, if they stay healthy and productive during the next two seasons.
