MLB trade rumors: New front-runners for Orioles' Manny Machado

by Felix Pantaleon

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado is the best hitter on the market. The Los Angeles Dodgers will make a run at him before the deadline, but the Yankees could zero in on Machado when he becomes a free agent after the 2018 MLB season. Machado is third in the American League with 55 RBI this season.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting new information Wednesday regarding Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, who is the biggest bat available on the trade market before the July 31st non-waiver deadline.

Part one deals with the new front-runners for Machado, who would be a short-term rental for the rest of the 2018 season:

This is the one player on the trade market who can singlehandedly change the playoff landscape, and several Major League Baseball executives and scouts told USA TODAY Sports that the Dodgers have emerged as the clear-front favorites to land Machado.

The market is just starting to move now, a high-ranking Orioles executive said, and the Orioles have responded by pulling several of their professional scouts away from major-league coverage to spend time in the minor leagues scouting prospects.

And, yes, they are focusing primarily on the Dodgers’ vaunted system.

Yanks, Sox chasing Chris Archer?

The second part of Nightengale’s report deals with who the front-runners are to sign Machado following the 2018 season, when he becomes a free agent:

The New York Yankees are the favorites to land Machado once he hits free agency, but one team who plans to spend just as aggressively are the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have five front-office members from the Orioles’ organization, including president Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak, who are familiar with Machado. Instead of waiting until this winter, they could certainly pursue him now, sitting just 3 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

That the Yankees would be the favorites to land Machado is interesting to say the least, since the team appears set on the left side of the infield with Didi Gregorius at shortstop and Miguel Andujar and/or Brandon Drury at third base.

The Yankees are also expected to make a run at Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, when he hits the free agent market after the season.

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