Manny Machado

It’s rare a superstar hits free agency entering his age-26 season, but that’s what happens when you debut at 19. Machado is coming off arguably his best year as he exhibited above-average-to-elite skills across the board. He set new career best levels in contact and walk rate, contributing to new personal highs in average, homers and RBI. Plus, Machado returned to swiping double-digit bases with his best ever success rate. Much has been made of Machado’s “Johnny Hustle” comment and the ensuing backtrack clarification, but missing only 11 games over the past four campaigns, including playing all 162 in 2015 and 2018, speaks volumes. It’s no secret the defensive metrics rank him as one of the best at the hot corner but below average at shortstop. For fantasy, it doesn’t matter, though he’s lost dual eligibility, entering 2019 as shortstop only. Machado has it all: durability, elite skills and youth. Ignore the rest. He’s one of the top players in the game.

Machado got off to a dismal start to 2017, batting .205/.286/.405 over the first two months of the campaign. However, all the underlying numbers said a rebound was imminent, and sure enough, he came on strong down the stretch. While his walk rate fell to just 5.8 percent after the All-Star break, Machado made more consistent contact (13.2 percent strikeout rate) and that helped him hit .290 and slug .500 in the second half. He slashed just .229/.268/.398 away from Camden Yards for the year, but Machado hit on the road the previous two seasons (.289/.345/.523 in 2016 and .282/.351/.465 in 2015), so it seems likely that 2017 will end up being the outlier with that particular split. While the 25-year-old has lost shortstop eligibility, he could regain it in-season. His price will likely be depressed more than it should coming off a down season. Buy in bulk.

Machado set career highs in home runs, RBI, runs, and batting average, cementing his first-round status despite not stealing a single base. Such $30 players have to be good across the board or great in a few things, and luckily for Machado owners, he is excellent in the other categories. Sure, it would be nice if he stole bases again, but the rest of his excellence will do just fine. Picking faults in Machado is like saying your Lamborghini is only getting up to 220 mph on the Autobahn. While he is split-neutral in terms of batting average, 86 of the 105 homers he has hit in his career have come against right-handed pitching. Machado has good bats in front of him and behind him, which puts him in an ideal spot of the lineup to continue to be a top-shelf run producer. The team hits like a softball team, but Machado could be even better if the Orioles add a true table-setter to the leadoff spot.

Machado suffered his second serious leg injury in August of 2014, so his 2015 season was a complete shock to even his most ardent supporters. He swiped 20 bases, scored 102 times and hit 35 home runs while driving in 86 runners, setting career highs across the board in his age-23 season. One can look long and hard at his skills without finding a flaw. He is a patient hitter at the plate, makes contact above the league-average rate and his Isolated Power figure has risen three consecutive seasons. He could move down another spot in the lineup if Chris Davis goes elsewhere in free agency, and though a move down the lineup will likely reduce his stolen base total, it should bump up his RBI count. A 40-homer season isn’t impossible as he’s still filling out physically. In a 15-team mixed league, Machado shouldn’t make it out of the first round.

Machado is exhibit 1,527,106 in the Never Believe The Player Theory. As the theory goes, whatever return date a player tells the media or how said player will avoid the disabled list, throw the story in the trash can because it is useless. There were many stories about how Machado felt like he would be ready to start the season, but he did not make his season debut until May 1. His season started late and ended early, as yet another knee injury ended his season in mid-August. Machado has already had three major injuries and two surgeries in just four professional seasons of baseball. Some of those 51 doubles he hit in 2013 became homers in 2014, but a combination of injuries and a line-drive swing make it unlikely that Machado hits 20 homers in 2015. He remains a better real player than a fantasy one.

It was thought that Machado would take time to mature as a hitter, but instead he hit .310 in the first half and was on pace to break the MLB record for doubles. He's still not a finished product as shown with his 4.1% walk rate, a clear sign that Machado needs to develop more patience at the plate. Machado suffered an ugly knee injury in the final week of the season and needed surgery to repair a torn medial patellar ligament. Although he had the procedure in mid-October and there was no reported damage to his ACL or MCL, Machado is facing a six-month rehab window. As a result, he is in danger of missing Opening Day. Once Machado is ready to take the field again, he will be one of the more attractive options at third base, and over the next few years some of those doubles should begin to turn into home runs as he reaches his power peak.

With a lack of production at third base, the Orioles shocked many by calling up Machado, who had just turned 20 years old, having him bypass Triple-A altogether. While he was a bit overaggressive at the plate (9:39 BB:K), Machado held his own considering his age. Machado is still developing both his eye at the plate and his power, but he is expected to blossom into a star. With J.J. Hardy's contract extended through 2014, Machado should remain at third base for the time being. Machado may take some time to develop, so his value is far greater in keeper formats.

Machado effectively played his first professional season after playing just nine games in 2010 as the Orioles' first-round draft pick. The 19-year-old tore up Low-A, hitting .276/.376/.483 with six home runs in just 170 plate appearances, showing good plate discipline as well before a dislocated knee cap sent him to the disabled list. He then hit a bit of a road block in High-A, where he couldn't draw as many walks nor hit for as much power (five homers in 260 plate appearances). Look for the youngster to get another crack at High-A and hopefully move up to Double-A next season.

Machado, the third overall selection in the 2010 draft, went 11-for-36 with one home run and just three strikeouts in a brief professional debut. He projects as a very good hitter at the MLB level and he should develop power as he continues to grow. Keeper and dynasty league owners should be prepared to invest here, however, as he's drawn legitimate comparisons to Alex Rodriguez. Even if Machado fails to become next A-Rod (fail is a strong word), he should hit for average and double-digit (think 20-homer) power down the road. Just don't expect to see him at the big league level before 2013.