26-year old Manny Machado, who played for the Dominican Republic in the 2017 World Baseball Cup, now is the baseball player free agent to have been offered the largest contract. Born and raised in Miami, Machado always felt close to his Dominican heritage. He credits his Dominican grandfather for his love of the game.
Manny Machado joined the MLB in 2010 when he was 18 and made his debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012 until joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
The White Sox had coveted him and signed his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and his close friend Jon Jay. The White Sox reportedly had offered US$250 million for eight years. But the team with the best offer would be the San Diego Padres, setting a new record high for MLB’s free agency salary structure at US$300 million for a 10-year contract. The highest salary ever paid for a free agent in any American sport. The signing is dependent on a satisfactory medical examination.
Last season, Machado hit .297 with 37 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Orioles and Dodgers. The four-time All-Star shortstop and two-time winner of the golden glove award for third base was traded from Baltimore to Los Angeles just ahead of the July trade deadline. Machado spent the first six and a half seasons of his major league career with the Orioles, who selected him in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft.
In the Dominican Republic in 2011, Machado was signed by the Toros del Este but has never played in the Dominican Professional Winter League.
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Chicago Sun Times
Sports Illustrated
21 February 2019