The Electrician Who Urged Manny Machado to Sign With Phillies Reacts to Padres Deal

"Do the right thing and sign! Get the money!"

Manny Machado did, just not with the Phillies, leaving Tom Cudeyro, the 57-year-old electrician who famously called out to Machado and took a selfie with him, disappointed.

Here's a reminder of the interaction between Cudeyro and Machado in December just outside Citizens Bank Park when Machado was in town to meet with the team. 

"Like most Phillies fans, I was disappointed after hearing the news that Manny was going to sign with the Padres," Cudeyro said Tuesday to NBC Sports Philadelphia, when reached for comment. "My initial thought was why not the Phillies? I was hoping both Machado and [Bryce] Harper would sign with the Phillies."

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However, Cudeyro, a Phillies season-ticket holder, expressed hope for the Phillies to sign the other mega free agent still on the market (see story).

"Now with Harper still available, let's hope the Phillies sign him," he said.

Cudeyro is a great example of the passion Philadelphia sports fans have for their city and for their sports teams. He had the guts to speak his mind to a man who, ultimately, signed one of the biggest contracts in all of sports, and even asked for a selfie with him.

As for that selfie, it's going absolutely nowhere.

"It's prominently displayed in my family room with no plans of taking it down," he said.

Here's to hoping that Harper, instead of Machado, does the right thing and signs with the Phillies.

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