There has been speculation about the Cubs pursuing Orioles shortstop Manny Machado in a deal that could cost the North Siders their current shortstop, Addison Russell. But Russell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (subscription required) and other reporters Saturday that he’s not sweating those rumors. “As far as the trade rumors, if it happens, it happens. But I really don’t pay them any attention,” he said. “The only time I really even hear about them is the media bringing it up to me.” Unsurprisingly, the 24-year-old Russell also made clear that he’d like to remain with the Cubs, who originally acquired him from the Athletics in a 2014 blockbuster with the Athletics. Russell has since emerged as a solid starter, not a superstar like Machado, but trading him to acquire the latter would mean surrendering his three-plus years of control for a few months of control over Machado. Of course, it would also boost the Cubs’ World Series chances for this season, thus creating a conundrum for Chicago’s brass if it actually does discuss a Machado-Russell trade with Baltimore.
In other NL news…
- The Dodgers’ rotation took another hit Sunday when left-hander Rich Hill landed on the disabled list, but ace Clayton Kershaw seems to be nearing a return. Kershaw, on the DL since May 6 with a biceps injury, threw a bullpen session Sunday and could be one away from going on a rehab assignment, Pedro Moura of The Athletic was among those to report. Kershaw may even be able to rejoin the Dodgers as early as next weekend, manager Dave Roberts suggested to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
- Like Kershaw, Reds righty Anthony DeSclafani is making progress as he works back from his own injury – a left oblique strain. DeSclafani, who previously missed all of last season with a sprained UCL, made a successful start at Double-A on Saturday and could be just two more rehab starts from returning to the majors, Brian Scott Rippee of MLB.com writes. Before injuries derailed his career, DeSclafani was an effective starter in Cincinnati, where he combined for 308 innings of 3.74 ERA/3.79 FIP ball from 2015-16. If the 28-year-old’s anywhere near that good upon returning, it would be a boon for a rebuilding Cincy club that has struggled to find quality starters. The Reds’ DeSclafani-less rotation has posted a horrendous 5.66 ERA dating back to last season.
- In the wake of outfielder Juan Lagares’ season-ending injury, the Mets are experimenting with young first baseman Dominic Smith in the grass, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com tweets. Smith, 22, lined up in right field at the Triple-A level on Saturday and could emerge as an option there for the Mets, who – thanks to injuries to Lagares and Yoenis Cespedes – “don’t have many outfielders,” manager Mickey Callaway noted. “When Lagares got hurt, we had to start thinking outside the box.”
Russell is exactly the player I don’t want for Manny. 3 years of control is not enough time for the Os to contend before he reaches free agency. It would be a total waste, in my opinion.
I’d agree there. Russell maybe as part of a package. But he’s settled in as a fairly average player, so Orioles would need more.
Baltimore would be lucky to get Russell alone for Machado. Sorry Baltimore fans, this isn’t going to be a fantasy trade.
That’s for sure!
Maybe could work as a 3 way where Os get prospects farther away?
As an O’s fan, I have close to zero interest in a package centered around Russell. He only has 3 control years, which is not enough to last a rebuild. Also, Russell is a great fielder, but has along way to go with the bat. I feel like we need prospects more then a light-hitting defensive shortstop.
You O’s fans talk as if you have any leverage in this. Lol. 3 months of Machado isn’t going to bring you back much of a haul. Just an FYI.
You either take what you can get in a trade, or he walks at seasons end, and you get nothing.
Their point was Russel would walk in three years while they are in a rebuild so either way they get nothing. I’m sure Os fans would rather keep Machado for a couple extra months than acquire a mediocre shortstop who will also walk before they get good.
As a Cubs fan, I’d like to chime in and remind you that the cost of a player is more a result of the market than anything. The Dodgers are prospect rich and without Seager. The Braves are prospect rich and without a 3B. The Cardinals have pieces to give and would love the upgrade. If a number of teams believe Machado could make their season, they’ll give up more than just a Russell.
Why can’t you flip Russelll? Again, makes no sense. Better to get something than nothing.
One way or another, the O’s are going to lose a superstar. Other teams obviously know this.
This puts the O’s in a disadvantaged position, right out of the gate. This greatly diminishes their negotiating power.
I understand the market dictates value, but other teams also aren’t stupid.
The Nats could be a fit too. Turner could go vack to the OF.
That’s why Baltimore is Baltimore.
Yea no team will overpay for a triple crown contender that also plays a pretty sic defense. Get bent
Lol Russell is a top 5 SS in the nl. Medicore? You’re crazy. He has one bad year and he’s now mediocre. Learn baseball dudes.
Seems like Russell is starting to figure it out with the bat. He now has an OBP over .360 and he doesn’t strike out much. He’s on pace for a 4.5 WAR season as of today.
He only just turned 24 a couple months ago. 20 homer power is right around the corner.
First you don’t have enough confidence to run him out there for a season and see what he does. Then you send him down. Now for a confidence builder you’re making him a right fielder.
Wow. What a brain trust.
I don’t know if it’s lack of confidence that got him sent down. It’s good to have depth and they were able to pick up a pretty good 1B for cheap. It’s better for someone his age to get everyday at bats for now, and expanding his versatility will help him get MLB at bats.
Plus it seems they have a really good first baseman at AA so Smith’s future at that position with the Mets is not guaranteed. If he can play the outfield he could be more valuable for the Mets or in a trade. Meanwhile, mikeyank55 again does whatever he can do to put a negative spin on a Mets story. Makes you wonder what kind of a person it takes to come up with this sort of garbage on a regular basis.
I think that the Cubs should try a package built around, Jose Albertos, and Kyle Shwarber and other prospects. Then they could use Kris Bryant in the outfield more and align Russell, Machado, and Baez however they feel would be the best alignment. Shwarber would get to play in the AL where his horrid defense could be masked as a DH and the Orioles could move on from Trumbo..
Agreed. Shwarber makes sense. Happ, Albertos are others I’d include to make it happen. As for the Cubs, that would be one hell of an offensive/defensive infield and the OF would have Bryant in left with Zobrist as the super utility guy.
But I’d also suspect other teams can provide attractive packages, if not better, such as the Yankees. Frazier, Sheffield, etc. Yanks have a farm system to trade from, which I think is what the O’s would be more interested in.
WOW?!?! Really? Do you think the Cubs have built this young, proven championship core by being stupid and desperate? Schwarber, Happ AND Albertos included?!?! Haha, ZERO chance the Cubs give up a package of controlled, MLB proven players for a couple months of Machado. Without an extension agreed upon, which Manny has already said he won’t do, the O’s are not gonna get a haul like that for a 2 month rental.
The O’s should have been smart and moved him LAST summer, along with a healthy Britton. THEN they could have got some legit pieces to build around. Now, Britton’s on the shelf and Manny is a pure 2-3 month rental. They MIGHT get a good, team controlled guy like Russell from the Cubs or ONE ML ready good prospect like Frazier from the Yanks. That might even be ambitious. Unless of course MLB forces Theo to reciprocate the O’s for the major fleecing in the Arrieta/Strop deal.
Manny never verbally said “no he wouldn’t do” and extension. When he was interviewed after Seager for the Dodgers went down, Machado said it would be hard to consider an extension if traded. MLB can’t force Theo to reciprocate the O’s for anything..geesh
Bryant isn’t an outfielder (he’s an error machine out there), and Shwarber isn’t going anywhere.
Schwarber has been one of their best hitters all year — just recently went into a slump about a week ago.
If anyone goes, it’ll be Happ. He doesn’t have a position.
643 innings in of has 2 errors. Real error machine
Please post your findings. I’d love to see. Also, total innings don’t tell the full story. How many balls were hit to him, and how many chances for errors? Last week, he missed a ball that was hit right at him.
Additionally, errors don’t tell the full story. He takes some questionable paths to balls, and can’t get to many of he balls that superior outfielders can.
He simply isn’t an outfielder and doesn’t look comfortable out there.
Choosing to put him out there — when there are far superior options — is idiocy.
Errors don’t show if you’re a good fielder or not
I guess you change the channel on his 5 outfield assist which is 2nd best in baseball. He’s not great but more and more runners test his arm he’ll throw out 9 out of 10. He’s about due for another. He also had 8 last year.
So, trade for shortstop Tim Beckham, who got big leagued by the superstar into moving to 3B, then trade the superstar for…another SS? Common sense would say Beckham moves back to SS when Machado is traded but the Orioles are the worst-run team in MLB so they don’t operate under common sense.
Not to mention Baez is also a very good SS, Cubs need pitching more than INF/offense. Dumb deal for both sides.
Baez is a horrible shortstop. He makes error-after-error when he plays there.
Do you watch baseball? Your comments about Bryant and Baez make me think “no.”
Baez has 9 errors. And I’m the one who doesn’t watch baseball? Lol. Idiot.
You just said errors don’t tell the entire story yet post this. Lol.
Errors don’t tell the FULL story, but they certainly are indicative of a problem.
He has maybe 5 errors. He wears #9. He’ll finish the season with 7 maybe 8 errors. Along with his first gold glove.
Ha ha you beat me to it.
He would beat you to it. Dumb and dumber. Lol.
You’re a stooge and would kill to have Baez on your team.
Name calling gets you nowhere. You now look like the idiot! Go Cubbies!!!
Dom Smith moving aside for Peter Alonzo.
I think you’re right on the button there. I think the Mets are already done with Smith, they’re just trying to see if he’s versatile enough to give them any value. If by some miracle they make a run, they’ll look for another outfielder. They really need to get something out if Vargas in the rotation, or they’re toast.
Exactly.
the fans and media thinking russell will be the centerpiece is hilarious,
I know cracks me up
Schwarber for Machado+ (the plus would be a relief pitcher…whichever looks the best, at the time of the trade, between Brach, Britton, Givens and O’Day)?
But the Cubs aren’t going to trade their worst hitter for Machado. That’s a pipe dream.
Worst hitter? What planet are you from? Lol
“…we had to start thinking outside the box.”
Outside of the box to obtain a usable starting CF?
Lagares wasn’t the starting CF. Where do you play Conforto if you get a starter, and you have Cespedes and Bruce in the corners so don’t tell me there.
I read where Machado said he’s not going to the cubs. He can’t stand them or there fans.
The thing about trades is the player really doesn’t have a choice
And the thing about themed is that they are a troll
When he’s traded he won’t have much say in the matter. It’s all about who gives the O’s the return they want
Never heard Machado say be wouldn’t play for any team, much less the Cubs.
Gammons—well-connected to Theo has already said that the Cubs won’t trade for Machado. It would take an extension, which Machado basically isn’t going to do.
Russell is an enigma. Very solid defensively with still plenty of potential left in the bat. The name that comes to mind as far as offensive potential to me is Didi Gregorius.
All fan bases need to educate themselves on the value of cost-control. It’s crazy how much value some fans think a two-month rental is worth.
The Cubs are not getting rid of MLB-players, and they don’t have the minor league players to entice Baltimore—and certainly not enough to get into a bidding war with other teams—though who are these other teams out there anyway?? There are not many contenders who have a deep enough farm system. Or have the pitching depth to satisfy Baltimore. Not to mention the power struggle there amongst decision-makers. The same struggle that has already screwed Orioles fans from having some decent prospects to show for Machado and Britton.
I look for the Cardinals to make a move for Machado. They are loaded in minor league talent. It just keeps coming.
I wish they would because it cracks me up seeing the Cards chasing the Cubbies!
Lol first off the cardinals are not chasing te cubbies…but to the point, the Cardinals definitely have enough talent to get this deal done…but so do the dodgers, Atlanta, Phillies…I don’t think it makes much sense for Atlanta and philly because they should focus on their rebuild and if the want manny just wait for his FA…they have great teams but really don’t seem like contenders yet…the dodgers also don’t make sense unless they turn it around, but that is always a possibility….Cardinals could easily give up prospects for him and it would put a little dent in their farm system…the farm is good from top to bottom and anyone traded there is someone ready to step up…how’s that cub farm system?
As a cubs fan I have zero interest In losing Russell for machado rental. Chapman for Torres was worth ending 108 year drought. Wait till free agency and money cubs print grab him and Harper .
Doubt they get either. Nobody wants to play for the cubs.
Only winners baby!
What place are the winners in?
themed… haha, only a novice looks at the standing in May. So, where were the Cubs last year at this time? Where did they end up? Yep, ANOTHER division title, A 3rd straight trip to the NLCS.
Also, “no one wants to play for the Cubs” Hmmm really? Theo has essentially nabbed every FA he’s targeted. Lester took less to sign, Zobrist took less to sign, Heyward took A LOT less than STL offered him, Darvish took 30 mil below his projected contract. All these savings allowed the Cubs to remain under the luxury tax which they will blow past next winter with minimal penalties. They’ve said that’s the plan all along, so they’ll go hard after Machado or Harper and probably land one of them.
Why? Because contrary to your constant, non sensical drivel, THE FACTS prove that the Northside is a very desirable place to play. A proven CHAMPIONSHIP manager that players race about, a proven CHAMPIONSHIP front office that keeps playing chess while others play checkers and proven CHAMPIONSHIP young core that will remain intact at least til 2022.
I get that you aspire to be a troll, which literally like aspiring to be a douchebag, but at least try to be better at it. Try to be somewhat clever. Entertain us with your very transparent Cubs obsession. BTW, some of these kids haven’t even peaked yet, this time will only continue to improve. So, get used to your misery. Hahaha, CLOWN.
completely unrelated and I’m sure this will garner a mountain of criticism, but, would love to see a trade pack put together that would bring Schwarber home to Cincinnati… Yes it’s within the division and X, Y, Z, etc…
Lol Schwarber is one of the Cubs untouchables.
I don’t know where all these rumors come from but I hope they’re not true. I want nothing to do with Russell even as a free agent let alone in a trade for Manny. It’s not like their SS is hurt and that’s why they’re looking to upgrade. Their SS is there and he’s underachieving. So that’s a no for me dog.
The only reason you trade for Machado if your Jed and theo is if you can re-sign him for 5 and 150mil which isnt gonna happen.