What if Alonso Isn't Enough of Lure For Machado to Sign With The White Sox?

Last Friday, the Chicago White Sox acquired first baseman/DH Yonder Alonso from the Cleveland Indians for minor league outfielder Alex Call.


The trade raised eyebrows because Alonso is the brother in law of free agent Manny Machado.


But what if Alonso isn't enough of a lure for Machado to come to the South Side of Chicago?


It would leave the Chisox with two 31-year old Cuban born first basemen - Alonso and Jose Abreu. Not that it's a bad thing. Alonso bats lefty while Abreu bats righty. They could alternate between playing 1B and DH.


The two had comparable seasons in 2018. Alonso hit .250 with 23 HR and a career high 83 RBI in 145 games in his lone season with the Tribe while Abreu hit .265 with 22 HR and 78 RBI. These numbers were actually career lows for Abreu who was limited to 128 games due to surgery on his lower abdomen and groin in late August which kept him out of action for a month. Abreu actually earned his second AL All-Star selection in 2018 and if not for the injury would have likely driven in 100 runs for a fifth consecutive season.


While Abreu has been a star from his AL Rookie of the Year campaign in 2014, Alonso has been something of a late bloomer. After failing to live up to expectations with the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres, Alonso blossomed in 2017 belting a career high 28 HR and earning his first All-Star selection with the Oakland A's before being shipped off to the Seattle Mariners in early August.


Both Alonso and Abreu are free agents after the 2019 season. It will be interesting to see if the Chisox keep either player - Manny Machado or no Manny Machado.


As for Machado, I think the White Sox are a long shot even if they are prepared to break the bank. After having a taste of the World Series with the Dodgers does Machado want to play for a team that will lose 90 plus games? In that case, Machado might as well go back to Baltimore.