MLB trade rumors: What to make of Yankees’ ‘increased interest’ in Orioles’ Manny Machado

The Baltimore Orioles are expected to trade Manny Machado before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver deadline because they’re having a terrible season and their superstar shortstop can be free agent after the season.

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BALTIMORE— If these Yankees were still George Steinbrenner’s ballclub, then money in the bank still would be money meant to be spent and prospects still would be just prospects.

If The Boss was still alive and calling the shots, then GM Brian Cashman just might be ordered to do what it takes to get a deal done ASAP with the 25-66 Baltimore Orioles to bring in on-the-block superstar shortstop Manny Machado to play third base over star rookie Miguel Andujar, who perhaps would shift to first.

But with George gone and son Hal running the show nowadays, the Yankees’ farm system is as loaded as it ever was and these top prospects are being stockpiled instead of dealt away with the drop of a hat for any old instant veteran gratification. 

With Hal in charge, Cashman was and will remain under strict orders to keep player payroll under the $197 million luxury tax threshold to ensure that the Yankees’ luxury-tax penalty is reset to zero for one year.

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Knowing all that, don’t expect Cashman to blow up the farm system to acquire Machado before the July 31 trade deadline even though The Athletic reported Monday that “the Yankees are showing increased interest.”

And blowing up the farm system surely is what it would take to get the rival O’s to hand the face of their franchise over to a hated rival that is ushering in a new Evil Empire era with Baby Bomber sluggers filling its lineup from top to bottom.

We are buying this part of Ken Rosenthal’s report in The Athletic:

“Sources on Sunday identified the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers as the most serious suitors for Machado, but the Yankees’ farm system likely is strong enough to trump any club’s offer, assuming the Orioles are willing to send him to New York as a rental.”

Sure, the Yankees probably could get Machado, who will be a free agent after the season, if they wanted. They also could spend the $300 million or so that it’ll take next winter to sign Machado. Heck, they have the money to sign Machado and Bryce Harper next winter … if they wanted.

But that’s not Hal Steinbrenner.

A much better bet is Steinbrenner and Cashman pass then and now on Machado, who is hitting .309 with 21 homers and 60 RBI after going 1-for-7 with a double and a walk Monday night when the Yankees and Orioles split a doubleheader at Oriole Park.

Passing on Machado assures that the Yankees can add one more frontline starting pitcher, if they can find one, without going over that $197 million number.

After all, Cashman and anyone who follows his club closely knows that starting pitching is what the Yankees need more than anything to match up better in the playoffs with Boston, Houston and Cleveland, all fellow American League powers with deeper rotations.

As for this reported “increased interest” in Machado, brush this off as Cashman dotting his i’s and crossing his t’s scouting a great player just in case he falls into the Yankees’ lap at a reasonable cost as a rental.

Could that happen?

Anything’s possible, but there’s probably a much better chance that Sonny Gray wins the World Series MVP as a Yankee this year than Manny Machado.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.