REPORT: Cubs Will Be High On Manny Machado’s List When He Hits Free Agency

Ah, it’s been a while since we’ve had one of these juicy articles, linking Manny Machado to the Chicago Cubs, but this time it’s not so much about this year’s trade deadline. No, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe dropped in this fun, little nugget in his article that mainly focusses on the chances of the Red Sox getting Machado. 

Anyway, it’s nothing really knew, but it is someone else confirming what fans have connected before and that’s Machado’s close freindship with Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr.

Via the Boston Globe.

Certainly a team like the Cubs would ask for a window to see if they could sign Machado long term, but why would Machado do that when he has the ability to choose between several teams bidding for him? We’re told by people familiar with Machado’s thinking that the Cubs would be high on his list because of his friendship with Albert Almora. There’s more to such a major decision than a friendship, but it doesn’t hurt.

So that first part is again talking about a possible trade this season, but the bigger nugget is that according to Cafardo’s sources the Cubs will be high on Machado’s free agent list thanks to Almora.

Just how close of friends are they?

Via the Daily Herald.

The Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. and the Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado aren’t really cousins. But they’re so close, having grown up together in South Florida, that they could be cousins, or brothers.

“My backyard was the spot to be,” Almora said Tuesday at Wrigley Field while Machado was on the South Side at Guaranteed Rate Field. “We had a lot of fun. We used to get in trouble, being on top of my roof and stuff like that. We consider each other family.”

Not just friends, family.

And we all remember this quote by Machado back in May too.

Manny Machado said of his close friend in Chicago, Albert Almora Jr.: "When we're playing in his backyard growing up, we've always dreamed about playing together someday in the big leagues, put on the same big league uniform, be on the same field, win a World Series together."

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) May 21, 2018

So far in 2018, Machado is making his case to get a huge deal in the offseason, putting up a .951 OPS through 67 games this year. Machado has 18 home runs, 50 RBIs and 15 doubles in 258 at-bats.

Pretty damn good.

Obviously it’s all talk right now, but it is something to keep in the back of your head. Almora has been good for the Cubs in 2018, getting more playing time, especially against right-handed pitching, and he could also be important in the offseason, when the Cubs will certainly be in the market for the some of the biggest available free agents.

You don’t get the opportunity to sign MVP-level talent right before a player enters his prime, but the Cubs will get at least one shot.

And you know, if you want to briefly enter fantasy land, two shots.

I can't wait until Bryce Harper and Manny Machado talk to each other in the offseason, make a Golden State Warriors move and agree to take less money to create the greatest team of all time with the Cubs.

— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) May 21, 2018

OK, back to reality and the reality is Manny Machado might end up picking the Cubs because of Albert Almora Jr. No, that won’t be the No. 1 reason, but it could end up being the difference maker.

For now though, let’s keep dreaming about this.