MLB trade rumors: Phillies, Cubs in mix for Orioles' Manny Machado? What about Yankees, Dodgers, Braves? Latest odds

by Felix Pantaleón

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado will become a free agent after the 2018 season. He’s tied for third in the American League with a .343 batting average and tied for third in the majors with 14 home runs. Among the teams looking at Machado before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline are the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers.

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Major league baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is more than two months away.

Yet the biggest question in the league right now is: who will trade for Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado before the July 31st deadline?

Trading for Machado comes with a serious risk. He’s scheduled to be a free agent after the 2018 season (much like Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper), so any club trading for him may view Machado is nothing more than a rental player. Although a very valuable rental. He’s tied for second in the American League with a .343 batting average and tied for third in the majors with 14 home runs.

However by trading for Machado, that club would seem to have the inside track on getting Machado to sign a new contract, one which could be worth more than $300 million.

Machado or Harper?

Jim Bowden of The Athletic handicapped the front-runners for the Machado trade sweepstakes:

Cubs: 3-1

They are probably the best fit for the Orioles because they could offer former All-Star shortstop Addison Russell in a deal. The Orioles would control Russell, 24, through 2021, and he hasn’t even reached his prime years or his potential.

Phillies: 5-1

The Phillies have Machado at or near the top of their free-agent wish list for the offseason, so why not trade for him now? It might help them sign him come the offseason. They could start their offer with either shortstop J.P. Crawford or infielder Scott Kingery and then offer top pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez.

Cardinals: 12-1

The Cardinals don’t like to trade for rentals, but this year might be the exception because of the injury to shortstop Paul DeJong, the lack of overall offensive production from their infield and the fact they have the pitching to win but not the bats to match.

Braves: 15-1

The Braves actually match up the best with the Orioles because they have more top pitching prospects than anyone in baseball and could dangle two of them for Machado.

Indians: 18-1

This type of trade would be out of character for the small-market Indians, but the front office also realizes that its window to a win a World Series is right now, while they have the second-best starting rotation in the league behind the Astros.

Yankees: 75-1

The Yankees have to be so pleased with the development of both Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres that is just doesn’t make sense that they would pursue Machado. In the offseason, it’s more likely the Yankees pursue free-agent starting pitchers Charlie Morton and Patrick Corbin. And if they decide to add another big-priced, free-agent bat, then Bryce Harper, who grew up a Yankees fan, would be the more logical target to replace Brett Gardner in left field. However, the Yankees are the Yankees, so they can never be counted out of anything. An offer of Andujar and left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield would have to be accepted on the spot. Duquette wouldn’t be afraid to make a deal in the division, as he proved when he traded Eduardo Rodriguez to the Red Sox for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller a few years back. However, there are several people in the know who don’t think the Orioles’ ownership would ever allow a Machado trade to the Yankees.

Dodgers: 90-1

There have been many rumors that the Dodgers would pursue a trade for Machado after their shortstop, Corey Seager, had Tommy John surgery and is out for the year (but) … the Dodgers are committed to staying under the luxury tax and don’t want to trade their top prospects, especially for a rental like Machado in a season that has not gone well for them.

Angels: 100-1

Second baseman Ian Kinsler has been a huge disappointment this year … (meaning) Machado would fit as a rental … However, the Angels just can’t offer a prospect package close to what teams such as the Cubs and Phillies can in order to make a serious run.