Yes I reluctantly read it and while I don't agree with the the writer's conclusion (that Machado's talent isn't worth the trouble or that he's not worth the $ because of it) it is nothing more than a secondhand recounting of everything Machado has done and everything people have been saying. The pot was already there. And his point that Philly was more tolerant of a homegrown player (Rollins) than it would be of the most expensive free agent of all-time is not wrong.
These things do get kind of circular - i.e. if and when Bob Brookover writes a column wondering if Machado could deal with Philadelphia's expectations/media environment, he is also perpetuating that environment - but it's still a real thing.
I am not real concerned that Klentak and McPhail would get scared away. They know the player already. I do kinda think the controversy might bond him to the Dodgers more though.
But if the Yankees, instead of going right to the preemptive offer, actually try to bring this stuff up with Machado's agent that's a good thing for the Phillies or the Dodgers or anyone else. Don't know that they will, but it's no less of a concrete reality than some of the other stuff we talk about(where we think he would want to live, whether he likes bit city night clubs, how stubborn he is about playing SS).
