The White Sox have made an eight-year contract offer to free-agent superstar Manny Machado, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Passan also tweeted on Sunday that the club may "be compelled to go even longer" to land Machado, who is reportedly seeking a deal north of the record 13-year, $325 million contract the Marlins gave slugger Giancarlo Stanton in 2014.
The White Sox have not commented on their pursuit of the infielder.
Machado is one of two premier free agents on this offseason's market, along with fellow 26-year-old superstar Bryce Harper. The other team that is seen as a front-runner for Machado is the Phillies, though Philadelphia is reportedly turning its attention to Harper after meeting with the outfielder in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The Yankees were also considered a serious suitor for Machado, but ESPN's Buster Olney reported that talks with Machado are "either dormant or completely dead" in the wake of New York signing shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and, according to a source, agreeing to a deal with second baseman DJ LeMahieu.
Given recent developments, the White Sox may now be the favorite to land Machado, who would join a rebuilding club that boasts one of the top farm systems in baseball. In 2018, Machado had the best offensive season of his career, slashing .297/.367/.538 with 37 home runs and 14 steals between the Orioles and Dodgers.
Chicago also recently traded for Machado's brother-in-law, Yonder Alonso, in a deal with the Indians, and signed free-agent outfielder Jonathan Jay, a close friend of Machado.