Free Agent Manny Machado addressed the controversial Johnny Hustle remark in an interview with MLB.com, saying that he understands how it “came across, and it’s something I take responsibility for.”

In response to criticism for not running out a groundball during the National League Championship Series, Machado said last month that he is “not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle’ and run down the line and slide to first base.”

“I was trying to talk about how I’m not the guy who is eye wash. There’s a difference between fake hustle for show and being someone who tries hard to win. I’ve always been the guy who does whatever he can to win for his team.”

“When I was asked that question, I was definitely on the defensive, and I was wrong to answer it the way that I did, because looking back, it doesn’t come across how I meant it,” Machado told MLB.com, which published the interview Wednesday. “For me, I was trying to talk about how I’m not the guy who is eye wash. There’s a difference between fake hustle for show and being someone who tries hard to win. I’ve always been the guy who does whatever he can to win for his team.

“But I know how I said it and how that came across, and it’s something I take responsibility for. I look forward to talking with each GM and owner that we meet with about that, or any other questions they have.”

Machado acknowledged to MLB.com that “multiple teams” have expressed interest in him but did not reveal the identity of the clubs.

This is just PR stuff. Someone will sign him.