MLB Trade Rumors: 5 teams who should be making offers for Manny Machado

3. Arizona Diamondbacks

Through the end of April, the Arizona Diamondbacks sport the best record in the National League thanks to an utterly dominant bullpen that leads the major leagues with a 1.70 ERA and has allowed only five home runs in nearly 100 innings of work. Arizona’s rotation has been top heavy, led by Patrick Corbin, who is 4-0 and striking out 12.4 per nine. Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray have not looked sharp, although Ray has struck out an eye-popping 45 hitters in 27.2 innings.

It is at the plate where the Diamondbacks could use a boost this season. It’s still too early to draw any concrete conclusions about the effects of the humidors at Chase Field, but the team’s offensive numbers are down. Arizona is 12th in the National League with a .230 batting average and has only been saved so far by their ability to hit the longball. Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta have all hit well, but the Diamondbacks have gotten barely any production from their role players and bench.

Arizona boosted its offense with a trade for J.D. Martinez last summer and was rewarded with a second half for the ages. Something similar could be in the works with a trade for Machado this year. Nick Ahmed is a perfectly average shortstop, but he is not the type of player who should be starting at a premier position for a team with an eye on the World Series.

As far as a potential return going back to the Orioles is concerned, the Diamondbacks do not have much to offer in terms of top-100 prospects. Corbin’s name had been floated this winter as a potential chip to pry Machado away from Baltimore, but he is no longer a trade candidate.