Orioles fielding 7 offers for superstar Manny Machado -- report
It’s the game within a game that’s been played all season.
To the winner will go Manny Machado, one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball.
With the Orioles in the midst of what could be the worst season in franchise history, it appears that Baltimore is finally ready to trade its best player before he leaves in free agency.
According to Baltimore Sun writer Eduardo A. Encina, seven teams have made offers to general manager Dan Duquette.
Encina says the offers, in order of their reported attractiveness, have come from the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Phillies, Braves, Indians and Cubs.
Baltimore has a reputation as being a tough team to deal with because of a front office that has a manger in Buck Showalter and general manager in Duquette who are both in the final years of their contracts. Meanwhile, trade also are discussed with special assistant Brady Anderson and owner Peter Angelos.
Last year, a deal which would have sent reliever Zach Britton to Houston fell apart at the last minute due to concerns over Britton’s health.
But ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that this time around, fellow teams are complimenting Baltimore’s preparedness to make the deal.
Phillies Nation’s Jayson Stark says the rebuilding Phils may follow that script as well.
“Right now, they [the Phillies] would seem to me to be really unlikely to trade for him [Machado], but incredibly likely to sign him next winter,” Stark wrote.
Machado left his gold gloves at third base to take over shortstop for the O’s this season, and it’s clear that neither the position change nor impending free agency has affected him at all.
The all-star leads the team in batting average (.310), home runs (21), RBI (60), on-base percentage (.380) and hits (104).
Los Angeles would make sense as a trade partner; the Dodgers have prospects like minor league outfielder Alex Verdugo, and a need with all-star Corey Seager out for the season with Tommy John surgery.
The fact is, however, that Machado would greatly help whichever team he gets dealt to. He could be the difference in a tight playoff run.
The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, and here’s what we do know — there will be trades, but there will be even more rumors.
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