Machado Is The Cream Of The Crop
As per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Machado remains the first choice of many front offices. Rosenthal reports that “WhiteSox remain strong factor along with Padres in Machado sweepstakes, sources tell The Athletic. Machado is said to be first choice of both front offices and preference of Phillies’ front office as well, though ownerships in SD and PHI might not see it as convincingly.”
Machado remains a free agent deep into the winter, but a resolution appears to be in the coming future for the shortstop. With reports of at least three teams heavily interested and the Yankees always lurking in the background, Machado could see a new contract by the end of the month. That aside, there isn’t much left to be said about Manny that hasn’t already been said.
Sale and Red Sox Talking Extension
According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com in Boston, the Red Sox and Chris Sale have discussed a potential contract extension for the 29 year-old ace.
Bradford tweeted “Tom Werner says on MutCallahan {that the} Red Sox have had contract extension conversations with Chris Sale”. Sale was traded to the Sox before the 2017 season, and signed an extension with the White Sox in 2013 to keep him under contract through 2019. That being said, he is set to be a free agent this winter. Sale has won a World Series, and placed top-4 in back-to-back Cy Young voting results since being moved to Boston.
Dietrich Catches On With Reds
First reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, former Marlin great Derek Dietrich has signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds and received a invite to major league camp. Dietrich spent the entirety of his career, one that started in 2013 at the age of 23, in South Beach with the Marlins. Dietrich was non-tendered by the Marlins earlier this off-season, and took until after camp started to catch on.
The Reds have very quietly built a strong roster this winter, adding Dietrich to the likes of Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, who were also added to the team this winter. The Reds seem to have built a win-win scenario for themselves this season: either compete deep into the season, or have pieces to sell off by July 31st if the season doesn’t pan out.
