Machado and his agent are much less flashy than Harper and his agent, but make no mistake, they want to sign the biggest contract of all time, and they'd love it to be big enough that Harper can't top it (since Manny is actually more valuable, at least in terms of pure baseball stuff). Worst-case, they will settle for it being the biggest of all-time temporarily.
And Boras might settle for signing the highest AAV of all-time instead of the highest total (last year he settled for Arrieta topping Darvish's AAV), especially if it's the Nats.
The Phillies can't compete with the Yankees if Machado wants to be a Yankee, but the city doesn't matter. Where he lives doesn't matter (the only thing that might is if the Marlins, or a team with South Florida spring training, was in the mix). The money will. Also, our owner is actually a lot richer than the Steinbrenners and will no doubt lend Manny his private plane on off-days for quick Miami trips.
Corbin took the money, but also, he chose the team where - the Nats' sorry history aside - he probably has a better chance of pitching in the World Series this season than he would have in New York. It's too soon to say the Phillies have that chance, but there are just more obstacles in the AL (and the AL East).