MLB trade rumors: Orioles’ Manny Machado for Yankees’ Justus Sheffield? Miguel Andujar for a starter?

The Baltimore Orioles are expected to trade All-Star shortstop Manny Machado before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has expressed an interest in the two-time Gold Glover. But so have the Boston Red Sox, who own a 3.5-game lead in the American League East.

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Your move, Brian Cashman.

Hours after learning the Boston Red Sox have entered the chase for Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi dropped this nugget:

Source: #Orioles willing to trade Manny Machado to #Yankees if LHP prospect Justus Sheffield is in the deal, but there is skepticism #Yankees would move Sheffield for a rental. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 11, 2018

The Yankees‘ interest in Machado re-surfaced on Monday. Since they are set at shortstop with Didi Gregorius, the Yankees sound interested in Machado as a third baseman, even though the Yankees already have rookie Miguel Andujar at the hot corner.

That makes this piece of news that much more interesting:

As I said on @MLBNetwork this morning, #Yankees‘ need for Machado increases greatly if they trade Miguel Andujar for a controllable pitcher. Unless they do that, they need a starter more than Machado. @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 11, 2018

It’s no secret that Cashman’s top priority is help for the starting rotation.

Cashman has already said he isn’t interested in trading All-Star rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres for pitching help. But Cashman could be open to moving outfielder Clint Frazier for an arm.

Flipping Andujar for a starter could make sense, if he can get Machado to play third base.

Problem is, Machado has insisted all along that he is a shortstop and has no interest in going back to third.

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Then there’s the possible cost for Machado. Sheffield is perhaps the Yankees’ best pitching prospect. He will be at the Futures Game on Sunday at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

Cashman would be taking a huge risk trading his best arm in the system for a player who will be a free agent after the 2018 MLB season.

Both Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will hit the open market, and the Yankees are expected to make a run at one, if not both, of the All-Star bats.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale says it might make more sense for the Yankees to go after Machado following the 2018 season:

The Yankees privately say that their interest in Machado is overblown. They’d sure love to have him as a free agent this winter, and Machado has told friends the Yankees are easily his first choice, but to grab Machado now without bolstering their pitching staff makes no sense.

If Cashman rolls the dice by trading for Machado, he would be adding a bat that has accounted for 23 home runs this season to a lineup which already leads the majors in homers.

He would also keep Machado from going to the first-place Boston Red Sox, who lead the majors in runs scored and own a 3.5-game lead in the American League East.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.