So now that we've waited all this time for him, what exactly is the value of Manny Machado?
It's a tricky question to answer because the gap between what he could be and what he has been is so wide. With that in mind, if you like what he has been, which was good enough to make him the 10th-best third baseman in Head-to-Head leagues and the ninth-best in Rotisserie last season, great. He shouldn't have much trouble repeating those numbers, at least on a per-game basis. But if you set your sights at the position a little higher than that, well, he may be just the ticket there, too.
Keep in mind he was one of the most hyped hitting prospects of the last few years, getting compared to Alex Rodriguez when the Orioles selected him third overall in the 2010 draft. His ability was so evident that the Orioles kept moving up the ladder despite lackluster numbers, and only last year did the numbers begin to catch up. Judging by the progress from his first season to his second, the 21-year-old could have big things in store in the next year or two.
Coming off major knee surgery and an extended rehabilitation, you'll want to keep your expectations in check this year, but if Fantasy owners rate Machado about on the level of Kyle Seager, who was getting drafted before him because of the injury, and that's the downside for him, he might be worth buying even now that the wait is over.