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5 teams that need to outbid the Cubs for Manny Machado trade

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 20: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 20, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 20: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 20, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

4. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed the biggest bat at the trade deadline last year in J.D. Martinez, and he carried them to the playoffs. The D’backs are right back at the top of the NL West standings this year, but it’s a tenuous grip as the division is one of the deepest in the league. Arizona has been one of the worst offensive teams in the NL as their hitters adjust to life with humidors at Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks lead the NL in pitching but are just 12th in runs scored. Even the great Paul Goldschmidt has struggled, and the thumb injury to center fielder A.J. Pollock leaves the team with only two regulars carrying an OPS+ over 100 at the moment. Pollock will be out four to eight weeks.

If a low-offense environment at Chase Field is the new normal, then perhaps it doesn’t make much sense to give up a big package for Manny Machado. The Diamondbacks are in luck, however, as the price to rent the All-Star shortstop will not be much higher than the package they gave up for Martinez last year. Arizona did not move a single top-100 prospect to the Detroit Tigers in that trade.

Nick Ahmed is not a viable answer at a key position for a team that has serious World Series aspirations — and the Diamondbacks do have the pitching to consider themselves serious contenders for the title. Arizona has one of the worst farm systems in baseball, but does have two top-100 names in Jon Duplantier and Pavin Smith and a high-upside young shortstop in Jasrado Chisholm. The need is there for the D’backs, but they’re likely outgunned in terms of prospect talent if some other players get involved.

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