MLB trade rumors: Red Sox stealing Orioles’ Manny Machado from Yankees?

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado will be a free agent after the 2018 MLB season is the best bat available before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline. Both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have expressed in Machado, a four-time American League All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner at third base.

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It’s Manny Machado’s world and we’re just living in it.

On the same day the Baltimore Orioles shortstop almost single-handedly beat the Yankees in a 6-5 walk-off win at Camden Yards, a new team jumped into the trade war, and it’s an old, familiar foe: the Boston Red Sox.

Per the Baltimore Sun:

In the wake of reports that the New York Yankees have renewed their interest in shortstop Manny Machado, two industry sources indicated Tuesday that the Boston Red Sox also have been in recent contact with the Orioles.

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If both teams decide to make a big play, it could set up the dynamic the Orioles have been hoping to create to get the maximum value for Machado and the club’s other pending free agents by pitting divisional contenders against each other.

There has been speculation that the Orioles might try to package Machado and closer Zach Britton to raise the quality of the talent they get in return.

There was a Red Sox scout in attendance Tuesday at Oriole Park.

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This isn’t the first time the Red Sox have been linked to Machado. Boston is set at shortstop with Xander Boegarts, but Rafael Devers is an adventure when it comes to fielding third base. Machardo was a two-time Gold Glover at third base, but has insisted during the latest round of trade rumors that he is a shortstop.

The Yankees’ interest in Machado stimulated similar talk. That the club could move Miguel Andujar to first base and insert Machado at third. But again, Machado insists he’s a shortstop, and the Yankees are set there with Didi Gregorius.

Complicating things is the fact that Machado will be a free agent after the 2018 MLB season, so he could be nothing more than a short-term rental at the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

Interest in Machado by the Yankees and Red Sox is interesting in part because both clubs seem set on offense. New York leads the majors with 151 home runs and Boston leads the league with 502 runs scored.

Both clubs could use help with their pitching staffs. The Yankees have a glaring need in their starting rotation and the Red Sox want more arms for the bullpen.

Boston will take the field Wednesday with a 3.5 game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.

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