MLB trade rumors: Manny Machado to Yankees? Aaron Boone ‘wouldn’t be surprised’

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday night that “all options are on the table” with baseball’s July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline approaching. That would seem to include Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado.

BALTIMORE — As the Yankees were leaving their clubhouse Wednesday to head outside for a pre-game stretch, one of their players approached a reporter to ask a question:

“What are you hearing? Are we getting Machado or not?”

Despite all the rumors, which have been hot and heavy this week, we’re hearing that Baltimore Orioles superstar Manny Machado likely will be moved somewhere else before the July 31 trade deadline.

We’re hearing the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks are the favorites with the Milwaukee Brewers still a player, too.

What about the Yankees?

Why Boone won’t talk to Andujar about Machado

A report on Wednesday by Jon Morosi of MLB Network and Fox Sports had the Orioles willing to trade Machado to the rival Yankees if part of their return included Triple-A left-hander Justus Sheffield, who is one of baseball’s top pitching prospects.

So are the Yankees making a run at Machado or not?

During his pre-game presser Wednesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone wasn’t asked specifically about Machado because it’s against MLB rules to talk about other teams’ players – that would be tampering – but he added some fuel to the rumor.

When Boone was asked if he’d be surprised if GM Brian Cashman added an impact position player before baseball’s July 31 trade deadline, he answered, “No, I wouldn’t be surprised about anything because I think all options are on the table.”

Very interesting.

“Conversations this time of the year especially are being had across the board with many different teams, so if there’s a match that makes sense I’m sure we’ll explore all of those options,” Boone added before his club took on Machado and the Orioles for the fourth time in three days.

Our sources tell us that Cashman isn’t aggressively pursuing Machado and that the Yankees are more focused on trying to make a deal for a frontline starting pitcher to pair with ace Luis Severino.

“I’m not in all of those conversations daily – I get some updates and they’ll ask my opinion on certain things – but all I know is we’ll be active in trying to better our club,” Boone said. “Whether that comes to fruition, it takes a few parties to tango sometimes.

“I know Brian is working overtime and exhausting every option. If it makes sense for us, not only for the short term but for the long-term, I’m sure it’s something that we’ll potentially do. But I don’t think anything is for sure.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.