MLB Trade Rumors: 5 teams who should be making offers for Manny Machado
It’s just a matter of time before the Baltimore Orioles are forced to accept reality and deal All-Star shortstop Manny Machado.
After toying with the idea of trading All-Star/Gold Glove/generational talent Manny Machado over the winter, the Baltimore Orioles decided to double down on their fleeting playoff hopes and sign free agents Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner in an effort to bolster their starting rotation. The investment has not paid off. The Orioles have looked like the worst team in the American League. Their offense can’t hit when the pitchers step up, the pitchers rarely pitch well on days when the offense puts up more than five runs and when things somehow come together with the bats and the starter, the bullpen has managed to blow the game.
At 8-20, the Orioles season is over before it even started.
As painful as it has been to watch the Orioles flounder, it is doubly painful because Machado has been arguably the best player in the league. He leads the major leagues with a .361 batting average and has seven doubles and nine home runs. Notably, Machado has made massive strides with his approach at the plate, walking 17 times against only 16 strikeouts in April.
Machado is in full-on god mode, and will be rewarded handsomely with a 10-year deal this winter that should top $300 million. The Orioles are delusional if they think they can afford that. Trading him is the only option to bring back any real value for a franchise that needs to rebuild. Of course, that’s easier said than done with owner Peter Angelos involved.
The Orioles were very adamant this winter that they would not trade Machado to the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox. That’s a moot point now as Didi Gregorius is an MVP candidate and Xander Bogaerts is hitting over .400. Still, the Orioles likely prefer to send Machado to the National League. They have already bungled the situation and cannot afford to compound their past mistakes by refusing to deal now. A trade is destined to happen by July (but nothing should stop them from beginning to field offers now), and these are the five teams that should start lining up to trade for Machado.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies will end April with a winning record and very real playoff hopes. Whether this start can stand up for another three months until the trade deadline remains to be seen. Pitching has surprisingly outpaced the offense so far for the Phillies, and the emergence of starter Nick Pivetta has been an extra special surprise for new manager Gabe Kapler. The right-hander had a 6.02 ERA in 26 starts last year as a rookie.
With a positive run differential that backs up their winning record and the one-two punch of Jake Arrieta and Aaron Nola, the Phillies do look like a legitimate contender based on their mound performances. The lineup, however, leaves something to be desired. The hitters were supposed to be ahead of the hurlers at this point of the Phillies rebuild, but only Rhys Hoskins and Odubel Herrera are off to a good start. Maikel Franco continues to disappoint and is likely just about out of chances to prove he can be a full-time big leaguer in Philadelphia.
Making a push for a free-agent-to-be like Machado does make sense for the Phillies, who figure to be big players this winter. Machado is a good fit for the Phillies, especially with questions lingering about J.P. Crawford’s ability to hit enough at shortstop. A trade this summer would give Philadelphia an extended recruiting window to keep the 25-year-old beyond this year while bolstering their immediate playoff hopes for this season.