The $175M figure is far less than what Machado reportedly expects this offseasonGETTY IMAGES
MVP Sports Group's Dan Lozano, who reps free agent SS Manny Machado, "unloaded" on USA Today's Bob Nightengale and ESPN's Buster Olney after they both reported the White Sox' "offer to Machado" is for seven years and worth $175M, according to Scot Gregor of the Chicago DAILY HERALD. Lozano in a statement said, "Their recent reporting, like many other rumors in the past several months, have been inaccurate and reckless when it comes to Manny Machado. I don't know if their sources are blatantly violating the Collective Bargaining Agreement by intentionally misleading them to try and affect negotiations through the public or are just flat out lying to them for other reasons. But the truth is that their reports on the details of the White Sox's level of interest in Manny are completely wrong" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 1/17). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes the $175M figure cited by Olney was "shocking to most observers and potentially embarrassing to Machado." It is "far less than what Machado reportedly expected" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/17). Also in Chicago, Daryl Van Schouwen notes reports of dollars have "varied from day to day, where Lozano felt compelled to speak out" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/17).
LOOKING AHEAD: ESPN's Olney said there are going to be "questions moving forward" now that the White Sox' reported offer to Machado is public. Olney: "Do the Yankees see where the market is on Machado and jump back into this to try and make a deal? Do the White Sox add more to their offer? Is there a mystery team hanging out there, or do the Phillies simply take one of the two players or maybe both players in Machado and (Bryce) Harper ("Get Up," ESPN, 1/17). ESPN's Karl Ravech: "We know how these things operate. You have agents who have agendas, you have owners who are trying to perhaps keep a market down. You have other players who are trying to get as much, if not more than Manny Machado, all coming together at the same time" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/16).
