Could Manny Machado Be A Diversion?

Sleight of hand. Smoke-and-mirrors. Hocus-pocus. Diversion. All things that describe a situation where someone wants you to look one way, while they operate in the other. Which got me thinking. Could the Phillies be possibly using Manny Machado as a diversion?




How you ask? Why you ask? What are you even talking about?

Well, while the hype has been with Manny Machado in the city of Philadelphia, there is another high-profile free agent that has went somewhat silent. That someone is Bryce Harper. Where did all the Harper hype go? What happened to all the Bryce rumors?

At the beginning of the offseason, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale told the world to “BANK ON IT”  that Bryce Harper will sign with the Phillies. Something that went over quite nicely in Philadelphia. The Harper hype was real. But, since that article, the hype has somewhat died. Where did the Harper hype go?

The hype is still alive, somewhat. But, it has been replaced in a way by the new hype for Manny Machado. A hype that got a lot bigger on Thursday with Machado’s lengthy extended visit to Philadelphia. While everyone was excited and filled with joy about Machado being in Philadelphia, what about Bryce?




The question of, what about Bryce, is something the Phillies could be using to work around the situation and sign Bryce Harper out of no-where. Could you imagine. “RKO out-of-no-where.” BRYCE HARPER signed-out-of-no-where.

While everyone wants both. Could the Phillies actually be using Manny Machado as a diversion to create more hype for Bryce Harper? Nobody will know until the new year because both free-agents plan to sign after new-years.

However, if Harper signs here and Machado doesn’t, would you believe Machado was a diversion? Do you think the Phillies would do such a tactic?

The world of sports is supposed to be silent. A front office is supposed to work privately to maximize their gains. But, with the likes of Adrian Wojnarowski in the NBA, Ken Rosenthal in the MLB, and many others, the things that they report get out for a reason.




However, the things that don’t get out, are the things that truly are supposed to be kept quiet. With all the Bryce Harper hype to start the offseason, could the Phillies be using another superstar, one who they still could get, as a diversion to hype up Bryce Harper even more?

If Machado signs elsewhere, how big of a hype would Bryce Harper be being the only superstar left on the table?

Makes you think, Doesn’t it?