Baltimore Orioles possibly saving money for Machado

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Many have been wondering why Dan Duquette did not sign any one of the 2014 Orioles who entered free agency this off-season, especially Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis, and Andrew Miller.

Many justified Duquette’s decision by saying he will take that money and use it during the Winter Meetings in order to purchase another free agent. However, Duquette has yet to make that monumental signing. Quite possibly, the Orioles’ general manager might be saving to give a current Oriole player a big contract extension in the near future.

Baltimore has some recognizable faces in the baseball world. Along with Adam Jones and J.J Hardy, the Orioles also have their star third baseman Manny Machado. And like Jones got in 2012 and Hardy got this past Postseason, Machado might be getting that big contract sooner rather than later.

In his first three seasons in the Majors, Machado batted .278/.313/.434 with 73 doubles, 33 home runs, and 129 RBI. In a short period of time, Machado has become arguably the best third baseman in the entire MLB. Machado has a .969 career fielding percentage at third base with both a Gold Glove and a Platinum Glove to his name.

He could be considered a human highlight reel while at the “hot corner.” The one downfall of Machado is how susceptible he is to injury. Machado has yet to go through an entire season without being sidelined by injury. In each of the past two seasons, Machado suffered season-ending knee injuries.

Regardless Duquette has to believe the  22-year-old is the future of Orioles baseball and pay accordingly.

Machado will be eligible for arbitration in 2016 at the earliest and he will hit the free agent market as early as 2019. As of right now, Machado has a $519,000 salary. And when Dan Duquette extends Machado’s contract he will earn a whole heck of a lot more than that.