MLB Network's Harold Reynolds talks Mike Elias, Manny Machado and more

LAS VEGAS - It seems every year at the Winter Meetings we have a chance to talk with MLB Network analyst and commentator Harold Reynolds. This year was no different. I interviewed Reynolds today at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and touched on several different baseball topics.

Reynolds on the possibility of MLB limiting defensive shifts: "It is going to be a very controversial topic. The commissioner is kind of in a box right now because the offense has been down. Players have clearly not made the adjustment to hit the ball the other way and capitalize on how to beat a shift.

"So with the game not moving and offense down, the commissioner is considering certain things. One of the more popular ones I'm hearing is that second base is the divider and you have to have two infielders on each side of second base. And the next step would be, to make sure their heels are on the back end of the dirt to keep them in the infield.

"So a couple things will happen (if they make these moves). You have to get more athletic at second base. You can't have that infielder shaking hands with the right fielder. So now you have to have that athlete that comes back into the game and I think that is a positive. And secondly, it will open up the offense. Because these guys are more of a mind to pull everything and try to hit it out of the ballpark.

"But I've always been a believer that the game is about beating the defense. If you can't make an adjustment to beat the defense, you shouldn't be rewarded. Why do you have to penalize the defense for learning how to shut a guy down?"

Reynolds is not a fan of the "opener": "I understand why Tampa did it. They needed to make an adjustment, they didn't have the pitching. I hope it's not a trend. The thing in baseball that has always been one of the carrying points of the game is the pitching matchup.

"People will walk up to see a great pitcher pitch. And you pay for that and you can sell that. If you are not able to sell the stars and what the game might be, then we're in trouble as an industry. So I hope this doesn't become a truism in the game, that openers are now the story. We need that headliner. I want to see Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer pitch. I want to see those big head-to-head matchups."

And starters are impacted on the back end, some pulled before facing an order for the third time in the lineup: "Yeah, the game is clearly changing in front of our eyes. It's not even subtle anymore. There are no subtleties. Bullpens becoming premium. That is why we see so many trades for bullpen pitchers and so many free agent signings. That trend, I don't think is going to change. Looking at the numbers and the data saying third time through the order the guy is getting hurt. But sometimes the guy is rolling, man, and you have to let him do his thing."

Is all of this hurting the game? It seems attendance is down: "Well, over time, every sport makes adjustments. We've watched football make adjustments with the wide receiver and the quarterback. People want to see points. Same thing with basketball. When they weren't scoring, they added the three-point line in the NBA and no zone defenses. Baseball might be at that point. You've got to have the entertainment value for people to keep coming."

With Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in free agency, will both beat the record contract of $325 million set by Giancarlo Stanton?: "If you had asked me this at the end of the summer last year, I'd say yes. The only hesitation now is I don't know exactly where the market is with the money. We haven't seen a big number to jump out and surprise us. We know there is money in the game though.

"I pause a bit with Manny Machado. Before the postseason and the antics with stepping on guys and all the things that were exposed on national TV. Before the postseason, I would have said he's easily past that. We've watched him enough. The talent is there and he's only 26. But I think he's really hurt his market as far as a big number. It's going to cost him. Somebody is going to pay him. He's going to get paid handsomely regardless, but I think it's going to hurt."

At a time when Machado seemed to be maturing, what happened in October?: "I have no idea and I've known Manny since he was 18 or 19. It was really out of character for him. It really was. Sometimes you say that and you don't necessarily believe it. But in this case, I really think so. It's hard to see a guy play a 162-game schedule and not get to know at least their mannerisms on the field. He didn't act out in that way.

"So to see that happen in the postseason ... I'm talking about stepping on the guy at first. The slides at second base, that's part of the game. But stepping on two guys at first base in the matter of a week? I just didn't get it."

This morning, Orioles GM Mike Elias was on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" show. What impressions did you get?: "He really has an idea where he's going. He's going to be analytically driven, we all knew that anyway. It reminds so much of what we are seeing from the other general managers. Same mindset, composure, education.

"We'll see where he goes. He's had great experience in Houston. They need a new direction in Baltimore. The Orioles were struggling. We'll see what happens. He's a kid from northern Virginia."

Will Elias win in Baltimore?: "I like his chances. The only problem is starting over when the Red Sox and the Yankees seem like they are pouring gasoline on the fire. It's very hard to do. They've got an uphill battle in Baltimore. They got so far down in the standings. Toronto was able to release Troy Tulowitzki with $38 million left. You're not going to see that in Baltimore. So they've got a long way to go to build that revenue and the fan base back."