With Machado to Padres, the Phillies say they will not be under pressure on a deal with Bryce Harper. Now what? – The athletic



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CLEARWATER, Fla. – On Monday night, the Phillies gathered at the Capitol Theater in the downtown area for a ceremony that looked like an opening ceremony. Rhys Hoskins spoke. Jake Arrieta and Andrew McCutchen too. This was another opportunity to highlight the "shoulder-to-shoulder" mantra of director Gabe Kapler, who spread to a camp defined by one who is not here.

At that time, the restricted circle of Phillies decision makers knew that Manny Machado was heading elsewhere. They had known for a while. Dan Lozano was in Arizona Monday night with the Padres officials to finalize the richest freestyle player contract in the history of professional sports. Throughout the bargaining process, two sources said the Phillies general manager, Matt Klentak, was adamant with Lozano: the Phillies would not go to $ 300 million for Machado. Lozano called again on Tuesday. The Phillies would not fight San Diego.

"We had a pretty good idea of ​​the direction this thing would take," Klentak …

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