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

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 21: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Machado /

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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 08: Addison Russell #27 of the Chicago Cubs fields a ground ball during the fifth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 8, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs and Orioles were linked in trade talks and rumors around Machado and All-Star closer Zach Britton on and off during the winter. The talks did not move much further than the preliminary stage because Britton injured his Achilles tendon and the Orioles ownership group decided to hang on for one last push with Machado.

As the trade deadline approaches, the Cubs and Orioles should come back together at the trade table and hammer out a deal.

The Cubs are in for a dogfight in the NL Central this year, and a Wild Card is not even assured for the second-place team in the division. The National League is the deeper, more competitive league in 2018.

Chicago is an ideal trade partner for a team like the Orioles in that they can offer young, controllable players instead of prospects. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos has always been reluctant to commit to a full-scale rebuild and may prefer to pick from the likes of Ian Happ, Albert Almora or Addison Russell to headline a return package.

The 2019 offseason will be a big one for the Cubs, who figure to be one of the leaders in the clubhouse to land Bryce Harper. If the outfield is still too crowded with Almora, Kyle Schwarber, Happ and Jason Heyward, Machado would make an awfully fine consolation prize.

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