PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies’ hunt for a superstar reportedly will take them back to Las Vegas this month, as their wait for Manny Machado has not removed them from the race for Bryce Harper.
Machado is expected to sign sometime this month with the White Sox, Yankees, or Phillies. He remains the Phillies’ top priority this winter, but the Phillies are positioning themselves to pivot to Harper if Machado goes elsewhere. The Phillies, according to a report by NBC Sports Philadelphia, have scheduled a meeting for later this month with Harper in Vegas. The Phillies met with Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, last month at the winter meetings but did not meet with Harper during their four-day stay in his hometown.
With six weeks before spring training, most of the Phillies’ focus will be on landing a superstar. But they are continuing to look for improvements elsewhere. The Phillies are content with their starting rotation, but they are also exploring upgrades as they have searched throughout the offseason for ways to add left-handed pitching. Robbie Ray, a 27-year-old left-hander, could be that upgrade if the Diamondbacks are willing to part with him. Ray has a 3.34 ERA over the last two seasons while striking out 12.1 batters per nine innings. Arizona made Ray almost untouchable at the beginning of the offseason, but it seems that has changed.
The Phillies are not keen on signing left-hander Dallas Keuchel to a five-year deal, but as the offseason rolls along, the free agent’s demands could lower just as Jake Arrieta’s did last year. The Phillies could then swoop in on Keuchel just as they did when they signed Arrieta to a three-year deal.
Machado visited the White Sox, Phillies, and Yankees last month but elected to wait until 2019 to make his decision. The calendar turned Tuesday, but there has been little buzz from Machado’s camp. The Yankees signed veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on Wednesday morning, but they remain the Phillies’ biggest competitor for Machado.
If Machado goes to the Yankees, the Phillies’ pursuit of Harper will kick into overdrive. The Phillies charted a path this winter to begin spring training with a superstar on their roster. And that path apparently will take them back to Vegas later this month for one more spin of the wheel.