CASHMAN TOLD MACHADO OF HIS INTENT TO SIGN TULO

Keeping stakeholders in the loop of decision-making and other important aspects of a company is essential for transparency and positivity. Things are no different at the Yankees, or at least by the looks of things when it comes to the team's communication surrounding the signing of Troy Tulowitzki despite their interest in Manny Machado.

 Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images

As BYB Managing Editor Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa wrote earlier in the week, the Yankees view their new acquisition of Tulo as a "spare part, but Machado is the grand prize and the Yankees think he will help get them a championship. You really think they are going to just walk from him?" Exactly, and that's why it should be no surprise to you that GM Brian Cashman informed the Machado Camp of the Yankees intent to sign Tulowitzki.

Source: NY Post

According to ESPN, "Cashman only acknowledged that he has remained in contact with Machado and his representatives. The late December meeting with them at Yankee Stadium was a "positive," he added. The Yankees did let Machado and his team know ahead of time that Tulowitzki was going to be signed, Cashman said."  The expectation is that Tulowitzki will start at short stop at the start of spring training and that he is only filling in for Yankee stud short stop Didi Gregorius.

According to Jon Heyman's tweet on Saturday afternoon, Machado remains a free-agent as it appears he has not gotten the deal he was hoping for at this point.  In addition, "The Phillies are in the process of setting up a face-to-face meeting with Bryce Harper. The White Sox seem like a "long shot" to land Harper, and the Nationals remain interested in retaining the free agent," reported Heyman.

Source: Yahoo Sports

It's classy that the Yankees were upfront with their intent to sign Tulo.  And the Tulo sign is risky but at the same time very smart.  They signed him for the 555K minimum salary and if it doesn't work out, the Yankees can always release him.  "He knows that Didi is coming back, and he welcomes that," Cashman said. "He wants to be on a team with the best players, and if Didi comes back and is ready to go and plug and play, he's all for it," reported ESPN.

Source: NBC Chicago

So the Machado watch continues and Tulo is a Yankee.  Now the Yankees will continue to monitor CC Sabathia's recovery, follow up on the Sonny Gray talks and continue to build their pitching staff.  The Hot Stove continues to heat up as the road to pitchers and catchers draws one week closer.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @Suzieprof