by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper are scheduled to be free agents after the 2018 season. Orioles GM Dan Duquette appears ready to deal Machado before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline.
The Manny Machado rumor mill is starting to heat up as summer unofficially begins with Memorial Day weekend.
On Thursday, we learned that Baltimore Orioles GM Dan Duquette is starting to take calls on the All-Star shortstop, who will become a free agent after the 2018 season.
Fox Sports 1’s “MLB Whiparound” panel discussed potential suitors for Machado Thursday evening.
Here are the leading contenders, according to Insider Jon Paul Morosi:
The two teams to watch for Machado I believe: the Cubs and the Indians.
Following Morosi’s report, studio analysts Eric Karros and Frank Thomas weighed in on the Machado trade rumors.
Karros thinks the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves could be interested, if they can stay in playoff contention.
Thomas speculated one of his former teams, the White Sox, could be a landing spot for Machado, even though Chicago is in last place in the AL Central.
You’ll notice no one mentioned the Yankees. That seems to be in line with what FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reported on Thursday.
You can watch the “MLB Whiparound” segment discussing Machado below:
Machado is having an MVP-caliber season for the last place Orioles, who are 16-34, putting them 18 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
He leads MLB with 44 RBI and is tied for second with 15 home runs. Machado is tied for second in the American League with a .335 batting average.
While it’s still early, those numbers will keep Machado in the running for the Triple Crown, last accomplished by Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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