New York Yankees feel like Manny Machado front runners

NEW YORK – Awaiting kickoff at Thursday’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Yankees president Randy Levine was reminded of the late George Steinbrenner’s passion for college football.

A former assistant at Purdue and Northwestern, Steinbrenner “never stopped being a football coach. He was driven like a football coach,’’ Levine said.

“Perfection is what he sought for himself and everybody.”

As such, ‘The Boss’ would not have been content with a place or show finish in the Manny Machado sweepstakes, which seems down to the Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox.

MORE: Manny Machado plans on free agency decision after the new year

But there’s a different business model in the Bronx these days. 

By all appearances, if Machado is looking to break the bank with this contract, the Yankees aren’t going to be the ones offering “stupid’’ money on a 10-year deal.

The Yankees’ advantage? Well, they’re the Yankees – a 100-win team with a young nucleus built for runs at multiple championships, and all the pinstriped trappings.

So, as the ‘George M. Steinbrenner Trophy’ awaited the Pinstripe Bowl winner between the Wisconsin Badgers and Miami Hurricanes, the Yankees wait out the decision of one of this winter’s biggest-prized players in Machado.

Let’s briefly handicap the field so far: 

Yankees

Levine would not entertain any baseball questions Thursday, so there is plenty that remains unsaid about the Yankees’ pursuit of Machado:

What level of optimism do the Yankees feel about landing Machado, especially if they’re not offering top dollar?

How was this sales pitch different than other runs at premier free agents?

And how does this bid, if successful, impact the Yankees’ pursuit of other needs – particularly premier setup relief, with free agents Zach Britton, Adam Ottavino and David Robertson still available?

MORE: Here are 5 Yankees storylines as we enter 2019

MORE: Manny Machado to the Yankees? A few scenarios that could play out

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, who was in attendance for Thursday’s Pinstripe Bowl, clearly operates differently than his dad.

Yes, losing the division to the Red Sox, and losing again to them in October – on Boston’s road to the World Series title – admittedly burned Hal Steinbrenner more than if it were any other team.

Yet, Steinbrenner still presides over a World Series contender and he’s yet to exceed his own terms on Yankees targets.

So, lefty starter Patrick Corbin went to Washington because the Yankees weren’t comfortable granting him the extra contract year and $40 million he received from the Nationals.

And perhaps, Machado will ultimately have to decide whether to take a lengthier, more lucrative offer rather than sign a shorter pact – say, in the five-to-six-year, $200 million range – to be in pinstripes.

And as his idol Alex Rodriguez did, Machado – now 26 – could score another lengthy deal in free agency down the road.

Outlook: Still the favorites.

Phillies

Over a month ago, Phillies owner John Middleton told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that he could see his club throwing around “stupid money’’ this winter.

The Phillies’ 2018 fade, and their ability to spend, provides plenty of motivation to target Machado or Bryce Harper.

But as the New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported earlier this week, neither superstar free agent seems particularly enamored with the Phillies, and Machado has a known preference for pinstripes.

Also, what about Machado’s preference for playing shortstop?

The Phillies’ trade earlier this winter for Jean Segura gives them a top-notch shortstop for years to come, presumably putting Machado at third base in Philadelphia.

In the short term, the Yankees can accommodate Machado at shortstop until Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery) returns this summer. Gregorius is eligible for free agency at season’s end.

But if Gregorius and Machado are Yankees in 2020, that means either a position change or a change of address for Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar.

OUTLOOK: Second choice, but the money might be hard to ignore.

White Sox

Chicago has had one winning season in the last eight years.

How close are the White Sox to competing for a championship?

And would Machado be content playing on the second team in Second City, where the Cubs are king?

Maybe it’s not too late for the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the old “mystery” team, to jump back into the fray. 

OUTLOOK: Distant third. But that’s what we thought about the Nationals before they significantly outbid the Yankees and Phillies for Corbin.