Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles was the only major leaguer to play in all 162 games in 2015.Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Manny Machado was the only major leaguer to play in all 162 games in 2015. He'd like to do the same this year.
Last spring, the Baltimore Orioles third baseman entered camp full of uncertainty. He had his second knee surgery in as many years, and hoped for a complete season.
It was that, most definitely – Machado hit .286 with 35 home runs and 86 RBIs and stole 20 bases.
He was proud of those numbers, but also of the 162.
"I'm going to do everything possible to play every game. It was a great accomplishment last year. I enjoyed it. It was awesome. I was able to say I was the only one to do it," Machado said.
Around the Orioles, streaks are a big deal. The big streak – Cal Ripken Jr.'s. 2,632 consecutive games – isn't in danger.
Machado, who is 23, would have to play every game for more than 15 years to threaten Ripken, but according to manager Buck Showalter, that's not going to happen.
"Cal's not in jeopardy," Showalter said.
At the end of last season, Machado campaigned for the Orioles to bring back their top free agents. Chris Davis, Darren O'Day and Matt Wieters are back.
Machado is still three seasons away from free agency, and while Baltimore has explored a long-term agreement with him, there's never been anything concrete.
"They're trying to keep everybody here. That's good for me. I hope they keep me here long-term. But the case is you can't sign everybody. You can't bring everybody back. It's just part of the business," Machado said.
Davis's seven-year, $161-million (U.S.) contract was by far the largest one in team history. A new deal for Machado could be even larger. The Davis pact excited Machado.
"I mean there's hope. That brings out hope," Machado said. "I know they've got the money for it."
So far, Machado has two All-Star Game appearances and two Gold Gloves.
"If I'm established, I'm established. If I'm an all-star, I'm an all-star. Those are the things you can't control. I can't control those things. I can control to go out there every day and be the best player I can be, the best teammate I can be. I think that's one of my goals this year, just to go out there and be the best teammate I can be and help everybody in every way that I can," Machado said.
Machado came to the Orioles in 2012, and the team made the post-season for the first time since 1997. In 2014, he had his second knee surgery and missed Baltimore's post-season run. That's what he has mind on this year.
"We've gone to places other teams in our division haven't gone. I think we just can't think about that stuff. We have to go out there and play. I think we have a great ball club here, we have the people we need to surround ourselves with," Machado said.