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Red Sox shouldn’t be concerned if Manny Machado joins Yankees

By Sean Penney

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees hits an RBI single to score Luke Voit #45 against Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees hits an RBI single to score Luke Voit #45 against Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

How much of an upgrade is he?

To make a staggering investment of this magnitude worthwhile, Machado’s addition needs to fill a hole that upgrades the Yankees significantly. As great as he’s capable of being, it’s not clear that he provides them with that type of upgrade.

FanGraphs rated Machado ninth among major league position players with 6.2 WAR last season. His value is that of a true superstar yet signing him doesn’t mean adding a 6+ WAR player to the Yankees roster. He’s replacing an All-Star in Gregorius valued at 4.6 WAR.

Offensively, Didi wasn’t that far behind Manny this year.

Machado: .297/.367/.538, 37 home runs, 107 RBI, 141 wRC+
Gregorius: .268/.335/.494, 27 home runs, 86 RBI, 121 wRC+

Gregorius was limited to 28 fewer games by injuries that briefly sapped his production following a scorching start before he picked it up again in the second half. He’s not a great defensive shortstop but he’s not the liability that Machado has been.

Sure, Machado is an upgrade but not enough of one over Gregorius to push the Yankees ahead of the Red Sox. Perhaps not even enough of an upgrade to warrant the mammoth contract he’s bound to receive.

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