Manny Machado says Aaron Judge’s comments were ‘blown out of proportion’
The Yankees' Aaron Judge (left) talks the Orioles' Manny Machado during a game at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 17, 2017. Credit: AP / Seth Wenig
TAMPA, Fla. — Manny Machado broke his two-day silence on Aaron Judge’s recruiting pitch, calling the Yankees slugger “a great guy” and saying he thinks the entire affair was “blown out of proportion.”
The Orioles’ star shortstop, who will be a free agent after the season, had ducked reporters after Judge revealed that he made an on-field plea to Machado to join the 2019 Yankees.
After Wednesday’s game against the Orioles, Judge revealed to a small group of reporters that he had told Machado, “You’d look good in pinstripes.’’
Judge was admonished by Major League Baseball for his comments, with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman delivering the message on MLB’s behalf.
Machado, speaking to Baltimore-area reporters in Port St. Lucie after a spring training game against the Mets on Friday, had only nice things to say about Judge, last year’s American League Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up.
“I think he’s a great guy,” Machado said. “He’s a great kid, and he always means well. Everyone always jokes around about a lot of things, and things that we say on the field usually stay on the field. I’ve told a lot of people they’d look good in black and orange [the Orioles’ uniform colors] as well, trying to get guys over here. It’s just part of the game. You want to put the best team out there on your field, and if I’m a part of this team, I want to bring the best guys over here as much as I can. I want to get a ring as well.”
Machado, who at 25 is the same age as Judge, already is in his seventh big-league season, all with the Orioles. It seems unlikely that he will stay in Baltimore past this season, and he might even be dealt away before the trade deadline if the Orioles decide to do a full rebuild. Baltimore discussed trading Machado during the offseason.
Machado, who has switched from third base to his natural position of shortstop, is batting .427 in spring training after going 1-for-3 with a double in the Orioles’ 4-4 tie with the Mets at First Data Field.
The Yankees currently have Didi Gregorius at short and Brandon Drury at third. Many organizations would love to add Machado as a free agent, and the Yankees certainly will have the opportunity to bid after the season if they choose.
It is unusual for a player as young and as talented as Machado (and Bryce Harper of the Nationals, who is 25 and also will be free after the season) to reach free agency. Speculation about their next teams will be a juicy baseball story line all season.
But for now, Machado is an Oriole, and the commissioner’s office doesn’t want players openly recruiting other players and then talking about it to the media.
On Wednesday, Judge said he learned his lesson. Machado said Judge doesn’t have anything to worry about. It’s all good.
“I think it was just blown out of proportion,” Machado said. “I’m always going to back him up. He’s a great kid and has a bright future ahead of him.”
With Tim Healey in Port St. Lucie, Florida
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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