Manny Machado's status this winter fits within the paraphrase of the classic song of The Clash. Admired as one of the game's absolutely best players, the Orioles shortstop will be a free agent a year from now, when he will be just 26. The Miami-area native has really blossomed the last three seasons, averaging 35 homers and 92 RBIs and adding strong defense. But playing for Baltimore owner Peter Angelos, whose track record in handing out big contracts is sketchy at best, makes his future status uncertain. Plus, he'll be another mega-talent reaching free agency in the winter of 2019 -- alongside that other young superstar who plays 45 miles away in Washintgton -- Bryce Harper. So holding off signing any deal might minimize a payday that could roll past $300 million.
So the Orioles -- fresh off a losing season with a lot of questions about their future -- face a tough decision: does the team gamble on being able to hold onto their best player; do they risk losing him for just a compensatory draft pick; or cash him in now, with his trade value sky high and teams from the White Sox to the Rockies -- and maybe even the Yankees -- dreaming of adding him to their lineup? During last week's Winter Meetings, the media was buzzing with Machado rumors. But with Christmas a week away, Santa -- that's GM Dan Duquette -- is still mulling his options.
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