5 teams that need to outbid the Cubs for Manny Machado trade
The Chicago Cubs are an obvious fit for Manny Machado if the Baltimore Orioles decide to trade him, but here are five other options.
One of the rumors from last MLB offseason that just won’t die — Manny Machado to the Chicago Cubs — has been rehashed again by Jon Heyman of FRS Sports. Heyman reports he will be the number-one target at the trade deadline for Theo Epstein and the Cubs, who are off to another slow start and currently sit in fourth place in a crowded NL Central.
Machado is an obvious fit for the Cubs, who are clearly running out of patience with Addison Russell at shortstop. Epstein has made at least one game-changing move the past three years, and he appears to be gearing up for another. The only problem is, all of the recent trades have mostly bankrupted the Cubs once-deep farm system. Gleyber Torres, Dylan Cease and Eloy Jimenez have all been moved, leaving Chicago without a single top-100 prospect.
None of that is to say the Cubs don’t have interesting pieces to offer the Baltimore Orioles when and if they are ready to face reality and trade the single greatest talent in franchise history. There’s Russell, Albert Almora, Carl Edwards, Ian Happ and even Kyle Schwarber to make a deal. The Orioles don’t appear ready to go all the way in on a deep rebuild, so any one of those established MLB players would be more than enough to pique their interest.
Here’s the thing, though — the Cubs don’t really need Machado to push themselves over the top. They already have one of the best offenses in the National League, a deep bullpen and a starting rotation that should snap back to the top of the league as soon as Yu Darvish figures it out. Why throw away another top, young hitter for Machado, who is really just a luxury this year.
There are other teams in the league that need to blow the Orioles away with a trade offer more than the Cubs, and these five stand out as the contenders with the most urgent need for the All-Star. And no, the New York Yankees are not getting their hands on Machado this year. Over Peter Angelos’ dead body.
5. Seattle Mariners
It has now been an interminable 16 years going on 17 since the Seattle Mariners last played in the postseason. General Manager Jerry Dipoto has not stopped wheeling and dealing since taking over in Seattle, but has not been able to work around numerous injuries in his starting rotation each year. The rotation still isn’t great this year, but James Paxton is finally healthy and having a true ace at the top is usually enough to keep a team in play for the second Wild Card.
The Mariners are in a pickle with Robinson Cano’s 80-game suspension for a banned substance. Dee Gordon will likely move back from center field to take over at second base at some point in the next few weeks as he takes reps and gets comfortable with another position change. Here’s a better idea for the Mariners — slide Ketel Marte to second base, keep Gordon in center field and make a play on Machado.
Most of Dipoto’s trades have been for fringe talent at best. This is his chance to land a big one. Unfortunately, in order to engage the Orioles, Dipoto would likely have to consider giving up at least one solid piece from his MLB roster since the Mariners have a weak farm system. It just feels like its high time for Seattle to make a serious, all-in move to end the playoff drought.