MLB trade rumors: Imagining Orioles-Phillies Manny Machado deal; should Yankees be worried?

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper are scheduled to become free agents after the 2018 season. The Yankees and Phillies have been mentioned as possible suitors for both players. What would it take for Phillies GM Matt Klentak to pry Machado from Baltimore before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, 2018 (7/31/18)?

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Much has been written about the impending free agency of Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.

Both will hit the open market after the 2018 season and command contracts which could reach as high as $400 million.

The Nationals still have dreams of reaching the World Series this season with Harper, but for the Orioles, the playoffs are nothing but pure fantasy.

Baltimore is 13-30, the cellar dwellars in the AL East and owners of the second-worst record in the majors (the Chicago White Sox are 11-29).

So with no chance of contending, and faced with the real possibility Machado walks after the season, the Orioles will be listening to trade offers before the July 31st non-waiver deadline.

Among the teams showing interest in Machado is the Phillies. 

Philly.com’s Bob Brookover imagined what a Machado deal between the Phillies and Orioles might look like:

(J.P.) Crawford would certainly be available. If the Orioles also want (Scott) Kingery, the Phillies should be willing to do it. Yes, Kingery is an exciting young player who, despite some recent struggles, has a chance to be a star. Is he ever going to be Manny Machado? Highly unlikely. Furthermore, the player most associated with the Phillies in next month’s draft is Oregon State’s Nick Madrigal, a 5-foot-8 second baseman whose talent is described as being very similar to Kingery’s.

Would the Phillies also be willing to part with prized pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez? If not, they could offer a list of other pitching prospects and let the Orioles choose one. There is enough pitching depth in the Phillies system right now that they could afford to lose an arm.

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Machado leads the majors with 14 home runs this season. He’s fourth in the American League with a .339 batting average.

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