Manny Machado is now “Johnny Backtrack.”

Before Machado signs what likely will be one of the richest contracts in baseball history this offseason, he decided to try to explain away the infamous comments he made during the postseason.

“I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base,” Machado told The Athletic. “That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea, that’s not who I am.”

The interview was “troubling” to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, who said he wanted to meet with the 26-year-old to figure out what he meant.

He likely still is curious, because Machado, in a Tuesday interview with MLB.com, never actually said what he meant.

“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 said. “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.”

The lack of hustle Machado for which was criticized came during the playoffs, including not running out a ground ball in Game 4 of the World Series. That’s when he also stepped on Boston first baseman Steve Pearce’s foot after seemingly spiking Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar on a similar play earlier in the postseason.

The play against the Brewers caused NL MVP Christian Yelich to label Machado “a dirty player.”

Machado acknowledged the need to do more damage control as his free agency continues, since he undoubtedly heard Steinbrenner’s response, in which the owner said he needed to hear from the star infielder.

“If we’re interested in any player, sit down with him face to face and ask him, ‘Where did this come from? What was the context around the entire interview? Was there a point you were trying to [make]? How do you justify it?’ ” Steinbrenner said at the owners meetings last week. “Because that ain’t gonna sell where we play baseball. That conversation will happen no matter who it is.”

Machado said he’d be willing to talk with any interested team.

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

Certainly, among the points Machado will make is the fact he played in 162 games in 2018 and has missed a total of just 11 games in the past four seasons. And his productivity at the plate over the past six years when healthy is unmatched by anyone other than perhaps fellow free agent Bryce Harper and the Angels’ Mike Trout.

Machado will get his giant contract from someone, and with the Yankees having been interested in the 26-year-old even before losing Didi Gregorius for a portion of 2019 following Tommy John surgery, they certainly are a potential landing spot.

They just might want to hear a little more.