Very interesting but unsure of the validity in the concept.

Don't think that team would contend with both of them.

But wow..how payrolls change. Even with Miguel Cabrera and Jordan Zimmermann' albatross deals, the Padres payroll is higher than Detroit as we speak. 

Given that, Detroit should sign both Harper and Machado, I say! Of course they's have to pay Harper $400M and Manny $350 to send them, to Detroit.

The beat goes on. What is this, the offseason of Sonny and Cher? The latest dirt on Harper-Machado, courtesy of MLB.com, the all-time "if, then" scenarios -

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The biggest questions of the offseason have been where Manny Machado and Bryce Harper will sign for 2019 and beyond. Well, Spring Training has started for all 30 teams and both superstars remain unsigned, leaving plenty of Hot Stove intrigue as position players get set to report next week.

Which of the two will sign first? And what will it mean to the other -- not to mention a couple of other high-profile unsigned free agents in Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel -- when the first domino falls?



Here's a look at what a Harper or Machado signing would mean for the rest of the top available free agents. We'll start with a few Harper scenarios, and then move on to Machado. We won't hit on every possible scenario, but we've attempted to address the most likely possibilities.

IF HARPER SIGNS WITH THE PHILLIES ...
Machado: The White Sox would immediately become heavy favorites for Machado in this scenario, though the Yankees could make a late move for the infielder, trying to convince Machado that playing for a contender would make a shorter-term deal worth his while. The Phillies would likely be out of the mix, unless ownership's definition of "stupid" money was even crazier than any of us believed.

Keuchel: The Phillies have been viewed as a logical landing spot for the left-hander, but Philadelphia's pursuit of Harper and Machado has left the former American League Cy Young Award winner playing a waiting game. The Phillies could still make a play for Keuchel even after signing Harper, though that seems unlikely. The Braves could still use a starter, and given that the Phillies would have strengthened their lineup with the addition of Harper, perhaps Atlanta counters with a Keuchel signing. A return to the Astros would also remain in play.

Kimbrel: Like Keuchel, many have viewed Philly as a potential fit for Kimbrel, even after the Phillies' signing of David Robertson. A Harper signing would make that less likely, making the Red Sox and Braves the favorites to sign the All-Star closer, possibly on a shorter-term deal with opt-outs that would allow Kimbrel to return to the free-agent market again in a year or two.

IF HARPER SIGNS WITH THE NATIONALS ...
Machado: Having missed out on Harper, the Phillies could put the full-court press on Machado, who has been the team's preferred choice between the two all winter, according to sources. While both players were on the market, the fallback plan was always that the Phillies could sign the other if they miss out on the first. If Harper returns to the Nationals, Washington would become an overwhelming favorite in the NL East despite the moves the Phillies have made this offseason, making Machado feel like more of a necessity for Philly. The White Sox, who have been in pursuit of both players for much of the winter, could also make a bigger push for Machado.

Keuchel: Of course, Philadelphia could also pivot in another direction, addressing their pitching staff instead of making a bigger push for Machado. Adding Keuchel to Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta would take some pressure off the youngsters at the back end of the rotation, while the Phillies would also have enough money to add another notable reliever. Which brings us to …

Kimbrel: With Robertson and Seranthony Dominguez already in tow to anchor the back of the Phillies' bullpen, the addition of Kimbrel would give them the best bullpen in the National League. The Braves might also feel some pressure if Harper stays in Washington, making a reunion with Kimbrel an option, too.

IF HARPER SIGNS WITH THE GIANTS ...
Machado: This might be the dream scenario for Machado, who could spark a bidding war between the Phillies, White Sox and Padres. Machado would be in a similar situation if Harper goes back to Washington, though a big move by the Giants could push San Diego general manager A.J. Preller to make a big splash.

Keuchel/Kimbrel: A Harper-to-San Francisco move would leave Keuchel and Kimbrel in a similar situation as they would be in if Harper was to return to Washington. The Phillies' interest in the pitchers would likely still depend upon Machado and how aggressive they chose to get in their pursuit of the infielde

IF MACHADO SIGNS WITH THE PHILLIES ...
Harper: Philadelphia would likely be out of the Harper mix, which might ease the pressure on the Nationals to go above and beyond to bring back the face of their franchise at any cost. The White Sox would then become the favorites to sign Harper, though the Padres could also make a push. But what if Harper decides he wants to play for more of a "win-now" club? Perhaps the former NL MVP might consider a shorter-term deal, giving teams such as the Yankees, Cubs and Dodgers an opportunity to re-think their positions.

Keuchel: Much like the Harper-to-Philly scenario, this would be bad news for Keuchel. The left-hander would lose his biggest potential bidder as the Phillies would likely be out, though the Braves could jump in with an offer to counter their division foes. The Astros would also remain on the periphery, though Keuchel would probably have to accept a shorter-term deal to return to Houston. The good news in that scenario? He wouldn't be subject to a qualifying offer when he returned to the free-agent market, having received one this winter from the Astros.

Kimbrel: As outlined earlier, the Red Sox and Braves would remain Kimbrel's most likely destinations if the Phillies sign either Machado or Harper

IF MACHADO SIGNS WITH THE WHITE SOX ...
Harper: The Phillies, having missed out on Machado, would likely go all-in to sign Harper. Philly's offer could easily be the biggest out there for Harper, but it would be surprising if agent Scott Boras didn't give the Nationals one final chance to match or exceed it. Might the prospect of Harper joining an NL East rival be enough to get the Nationals to make another major financial commitment? With third baseman Anthony Rendon slated to become a free agent at the end of 2019, the decision could come down to which of the two players they prefer to ink long-term.

Keuchel/Kimbrel: Like nearly every other scenario, the Phillies' response would be the key. Philadelphia could make a run at Keuchel and/or Kimbrel (and Marwin Gonzalez, for that matter) if they chose not to meet Harper's price, though given how aggressive the Phillies have been, Harper would still figure to be their top choice. The Braves could be an option for either pitcher, while the Astros (Keuchel) and Red Sox (Kimbrel) could still bring back their former players, likely on shorter-term deals.

IF MACHADO SIGNS WITH THE PADRES ...
Harper: San Diego has been in on Harper as well, so while this would eliminate the Padres from his future, it would leave the Phillies and White Sox in a potential bidding war for his services. The Nationals would also still be in the mix, though Washington's involvement would again likely hinge on how aggressive the Phillies got in their pursuit of Harper.

Keuchel/Kimbrel: The best news for either of these pitchers would be Machado or Harper signing with the White Sox and the other landing with someone other than Philly. If the Phillies miss out on both stars, it could spark a chain reaction that could land Keuchel or Kimbrel -- or both -- in Philly.

"The Moose" may no longer be on the loose. Per MLBtraderumors-

Mike Moustakas was hoping to return to the Brewers, and the third baseman reportedly turned down a multi-year offer from another team, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets. Moustakas and the Brew Crew agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal today that includes a mutual option for 2020, providing at least a chance at a longer-term stay in Milwaukee for the third baseman, though mutual options are rarely exercised. The Angels, Phillies, and Padres were all known to have at least checked in about Moustakas at various points this offseason, though The Athletic’s Dennis Lin notes that San Diego’s interest was “tempered.”

So if the phillies sign Harper.....I take it they are sending Odubel Herrera to the bench? or are they sending their brand new $50 mil Andrew McCutchen to the bench?

Why cant the three of them play the outfield?

The man who wanted to play for his original team forever!

Let's hear it for Nolan Arenado. And the Colorado Rockies. I am not a Rockies fan but I am a HUGE fan of their prescience here. They signed him for $40M less than the Padres paid for Manny Machado. But for $32.5M per year over eight seasons, which is more per year than Manny got on his ten year deal (10-$300). This guy could have broken $400M in free agency after 2020. But both parties were smart! It also keeps him from joining his hometown team (the Dodgers). From ESPN +

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Next year's free-agent class just got a lot less interesting: Nolan Arenado is staying put. Arenado has agreed to an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Colorado Rockies that could keep the four-time All-Star third baseman in Colorado through the 2026 season. By the end of the contract, he's a good bet to have surpassed Todd Helton, Larry Walker and Troy Tulowitzki as the greatest player in Rockies history.

Rockies fans should certainly be excited about the deal. The Rockies are coming off two straight wild-card appearances and lost the National League West title to the Dodgers last season in a one-game tiebreaker. They're in obvious win-now mode and have locked up their franchise player through his prime seasons. They've built a young and -- for now -- inexpensive rotation around him that was one of the best in the game in 2018. The farm system will churn out infielder/outfielder Garrett Hampson this season and then top prospect Brendan Rodgers, No. 28 on Keith Law's top 100, later this year or early next.

Signing Arenado helps keep that window for contention open. He hit .297/.374/.561 with a league-leading 38 home runs in 2018, finishing third in the MVP voting. He's entering his age-28 season in 2019 and should remain one of the game's top all-around players for the foreseeable future. Here's a chart going back to his breakout 2015 season showing where Arenado ranks among all players in WAR over that span:

SPAN BASEBALL-REFERENCE FANGRAPHS
2018 24 17
2017-18 13 15
2016-18 7 12
2015-18 5 15

The desire to remain in Colorado no doubt was important, but Arenado also could see what happened in free agency this winter with Manny Machado and Bryce Harper and know there was no guarantee he'd get a better offer than the one from the Rockies, especially considering he'd have hit free agency at age 28, two years older than Machado and Harper. It lined up perfectly for both sides to hammer out a deal.

Another reason for Arenado to stay in Colorado: If he had eyes on returning to his home state of California, four of the five teams there already have third base occupied (Manny Machado, Justin Turner, Matt Chapman, Evan Longoria), while the Angels, a team with a potential opening, need to save all their money for Mike Trout. There would be no guarantee the California teams would be going after Arenado.

It's worth noting that the Rockies have signed some long-term megadeals in the past and not had the best of luck. In 2001, Mike Hampton signed a $121 million deal as a free agent, but he was jettisoned out of town after going 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA over two seasons. Helton signed a $141.5 million extension in 2003 but produced just two more elite seasons as back issues cut into his health and production. With the outcome of those contracts still fresh, the Rockies ended up trading Matt Holliday rather than negotiate an extension. Then came Tulowitzki, who spent too much of his $155.75 million extension on the injured list, although the Rockies were at least able to trade him and get out of the final five-plus years of that contract (which runs through 2020).

There are reasons to believe the Rockies can build around Arenado and Charlie Blackmon (who signed his own $108 million extension last spring) better than they did around Helton or Tulo. They can feel pretty good about the current roster, with Kyle Freeland and German Marquez headlining that rotation. Shortstop Trevor Story emerged as a big star last season, leading the majors in extra-base hits and matching Arenado in WAR. They have a group of cheap young position players with upside in David Dahl, Ryan McMahon, Hampton and Rodgers.

Maybe more importantly, a new TV deal should enable them to maintain higher payrolls moving forward. The Rockies' current local TV deal, which runs through 2020, pays the team just $20 million per year. Only the Rays and Marlins were reportedly making less from their local TV deals and the Rays are reportedly close to a new deal for this year (although owner Stuart Sternberg recently told the Tampa Bay Times the deal is for "well under" the $82 million per year Sports Business Journal reported last February). Bottom line: Starting in 2021, the Rockies will see a growth in TV revenue.

Of course, the onus is on Arenado to remain healthy and productive. We all know many of the biggest contracts in MLB history have not worked out, especially on the back ends of those deals -- think Alex Rodriguez's final years with the Yankees, or Albert Pujols with the Angels, and now maybe Miguel Cabrera with the Tigers. We'll see what happens with Robinson Cano and down the road with Giancarlo Stanton.

Two huge positives for Arenado: He has been extremely durable, averaging 158 games per season the past four years, and as a plus-plus defender at third base, he's likely to maintain defensive value at the back end of the deal even if the bat starts to decline.

In some fashion, he reminds me of two other superb two-way third basemen of recent vintage, Adrian Beltre and Evan Longoria:

Arenado, ages 24 to 27: 25.3 WAR

Beltre, ages 24 to 27: 21.8 WAR

Longoria, ages 24 to 27: 24.0 WAR

Beltre, of course, aged remarkably well and was actually better in his 30s than his 20s. Besides his defense, a key to the second half of his career was his bat-to-ball ability. In his 20s, he struck out 15.7 percent of the time; in his 30s, he cut that to 12.6 percent. Arenado doesn't strike out excessively (15.5 percent career rate), but if he improves in that area, more balls in play will lead to more hits. Longoria, on the other hand, hasn't been the same player since turning 28. In his first six seasons, he averaged 6.0 WAR per season. In five seasons since turning 28, he has averaged 3.2. Good, but no longer great.

All this is to say there's no guarantee on what Arenado will do the next three or four seasons, let alone the next eight. One concern is that I don't consider him a great hitter for average and batting average tends to decline as a player ages. He has a .291 career mark, but that's not particularly impressive for a Coors Field player. He has hit .300 once, for a team that has had five different batting title winners since 2010 alone. That's not a huge knock, but if Arenado hit .320 instead of .290, he'd be right up there with Mike Trout and Mookie Betts as opposed to merely one of the top half-dozen or so position players in the game.

In the end, the Rockies keep the face of their franchise, and that's important. With their success the past couple of seasons, the Rockies have become a hot ticket, drawing 3 million last season for the first time since 2001. Keeping Arenado means they have a better chance of keeping this run of success going and giving the Dodgers a fight for the first division title in franchise history.