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MLB Trade Rumors: Ranking the teams Manny Machado would help most

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles heads to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles heads to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN- MAY 16: Marcell Ozuna #23 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on against the Minnesota Twins on May 16, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cardinals defeated the Twins 7-5. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marcell Ozuna
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- MAY 16: Marcell Ozuna #23 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on against the Minnesota Twins on May 16, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cardinals defeated the Twins 7-5. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marcell Ozuna /

5. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are not the type of team to take missing the playoffs two years in a row lightly, and they are headed for a third straight year on the outside looking in come October if they cannot upgrade their lineup at the deadline. With Paul DeJong back on the field after recovering from a broken hand, shortstop isn’t necessarily the biggest area of need for St. Louis, but Manny Machado is the best player on the block.

A little creativity could make Machado a better fit for the Cardinals, especially if he is agreeable about going back to third base. In that scenario, Matt Carpenter would move across the diamond to first base with Jose Martinez bumping slumping Dexter Fowler to a permanent spot on the bench. If the Cardinals do want to remain committed to making it work with Fowler, DeJong could slide to second base to make room for Machado at shortstop. In that case, the odd man out is Kolten Wong. The addition of another elite bat in the middle of the lineup could be what it takes to shake All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna out of his lengthy slump.

The Cardinals have plenty of incentive to push for Machado, and possibly closer Zach Britton. They may, however, find the asking price from the Orioles to be too steep. Baltimore would love to land young starter Jack Flaherty, who has been lighting it up in the big leagues this year. The Cardinals probably can’t get a deal done with the Orioles without losing Flaherty, and that is too big an ask for a rental, even if a reliever is tossed in as a bonus.

Instead of trading for Machado, the Cardinals are more likely to keep an eye on the health and availability of Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson. St. Louis has had the 2015 AL MVP on their radar for several years now, and his injury troubles this year will bring down the price considerably — provided he can get back on the field before the trade deadline.

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