Manny Machado will likely be the most talked-about name on the trade market this summer, and it would appear that teams are already beginning to inquire with the Orioles about his services. Baltimore GM Dan Duquette confirmed to FanRag’s Jon Heyman that rival clubs have expressed interest, though he unsurprisingly declined to elaborate much.
“We don’t need to negotiate in the press, but I can tell you there are more teams interested now (than the winter),” said Duquette. “If you’re interested in making an impact, this is the player.”
Heyman does report, though, that the Phillies are among the teams that have already reached out on the superstar infielder. The Braves, he adds, have yet to inquire. Philadelphia’s interest in Machado is hardly a surprise given that president Andy MacPhail is the former head of baseball ops in the Orioles front office, while GM Matt Klentak and assistant GM Ned Rice all came up through the Baltimore front office as well.
Heyman also notes that the Orioles’ asking price on Machado is believed by other teams to be far too high at the moment. It’s common in virtually any negotiation (trade or free agent), of course, for the early asking price to be considerably loftier than the ultimate price. Heyman cites a “Phillies-connected person” in suggesting that the Orioles have sought four young players in return for their star.
Certainly, that’s a lot to ask, though any package would typically be headlined by one or two high-level talents and a few secondary pieces. As Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote yesterday (subscription link), the O’s will want a package comparable to the Aroldis Chapman return from 2016, when the Cubs sent Gleyber Torres and three lesser others — Billy McKinney, Rashad Crawford and veteran Adam Warren — to the Yankees to rent Chapman for a few months. Some have expressed skepticism about the possibility of that type of return after J.D. Martinez and Yu Darvish fetched more modest returns, though Rosenthal rightly notes that Machado would be the best position-player rental on the market in recent history.
The Cubs have already come up as an oft-speculated landing spot, though president of baseball ops Theo Epstein emphatically quashed those rumors late last month when he termed such speculation to be off in “fantasy land” and said trade negotiations to that point in the season had been “nil.” The Dodgers, too, are frequently mentioned as a possibility in the wake of Corey Seager’s Tommy John surgery, while the Diamondbacks were among the most heavily linked clubs to Machado in the offseason. Certainly, other clubs figure to join the fray as the deadline approaches, as many teams aren’t yet sure what type of trajectory they’ll plot in late July.
If a team gives multiple top 100 prospects alongside much of their top orginizational prospects for 4 months of Machado, they’re going to regret it. Machado has been historically known for being streaky, and there’s no telling what side of the hot/cold coin he will be on in those 4 months.
Regret it when? 4 years down the road?
Regret it when Machado hits 220, and the team realizes they could have used all the prospects they dealt for better upgrades which would have gotten them further into the playoffs. And then regret it if the youngsters pan out and become quality major leaguers while that team is stuck in the basement with tanks by their sides.
“4 years down the road?”
The Cubs traded Gleyber Torres during their 2016 title run. Not saying that they regret it, but it took much less than four years for the Cubbies to see what they gave up.
The Champs knew what they were giving up, and they would do it all over again.
Because they and the City were hornier than hell for a WS win. If they had one say in 2012, they would not in my view have given up Torres straight up. They knew how good he was. Cashman played the game perfectly that year with the Indians and Cubs.
*won.
Your making it sound like the Yanks won that trade. The only team that won anything yet is the Cubs. Worry about your AL East first.
Well said kenster84
Relax
Both teams are happy with the results but if the Cubs had a recent WS win under their belt, I don’t believe they make the trade.
There can be two winners to a trade. However, the Yankees clearly were happy with the results from day 1. They were out of contention and traded a player months away from being a free agent. Add to the fact that they then signed Chapman months later makes them even happier.
The Champs? I thought the Astros were “The Champs?”
When he’s only 27,28.
Dbacks
I can’t understand all the rumor mongering……everybody knows he’s going to the Rays……
Yeah right…..
Yeah- the Rays haven’t spent in the past because they are secretly saving up to sign Machado for 400 million….
SHHHHH! Nobody’s supposed to know……..
Macho macho man….Manny wants to be a macho man
Machado for Addison Russell and Ian Happ is a deal I could see happening. Cubs would have a legitimate shot at resigning Manny.
For whoever trades four talented prospects for Machado… Anything less than a trip to the World Series would not be worth it. Hard to predict the results, but it is a lot for a rental.
The only way is a sign and trade
Which Machado would never even consider doing.
Ok cubsfan2489
It says four young players, not necessarily 4 top prospects. The Pirates got four young players for Gerrit Cole and I think there’s a few teams who wouldn’t mind giving up that kind of package for Machado.
Teams want now yes but given the 2018 class…they be dumb to give up the asking price. Only deal if it fits..
Or they win a Ship
I’m very curious if the braves will make a hard push to get him. I strict want them to pursue him in the Offseason and not via trade (if they even try). But he makes a lot of sense for the braves to go after. I can also see why we wouldn’t with cost and Riley knocking on the door
He makes sense for every single team not punting the season. If ATL think their best chance of winning a title is this year than the next 4-6 years then go for it, but it’s hard for me to believe that this is as good as this team can get. Let some other team mortgage the future and wish them the best. O’s need all the help they can get.
I hate the idea of a losing team “tanking” or “punting” in your words. If you are a 20-25 win team then Machado alone is not going to turn you into a contender.
How many 20-25 wins aren’t punting the season?
Punting infers that they have a choice as to whether they win or lose. If a team is rebuilding then by definition they are usually lacking on established major league talent. I would rather use the term “rebuilding” vs tanking.
If the Cardinals Truely want to contend for the pennant, not just the playoffs, Machado is the player to get. They have the money and resources to get him.
Cards or Dodgers
StLouis Cardinals is the best spot ,They have the talent to get him and sign him to long term deal.
And the Dodgers don’t?
I understand the first connection after Seager got injured, but I never saw a true connection with the Dodgers. They really could use a controllable starter and a backend piece to the pen or two. I just don’t see it at all they’ll probably target a SP/RP or s/and a complimentary offensive piece. The Dodgers offense is righting themselves after early struggles and that’s without an impactful Turner. His early struggles should be expected as the return from that injury takes a while to return to form. The Dodgers have the money and prospects to resign and trade, but Machadois not a pressing need nor do I think it will be. They are probably better off turning their sights to a SP with control.
IF a team trades for him, that GM should be fired. If you’re like “oh we’ll re-sign him in the offseason” why not just sign him in the offseason? Why on Earth would you use assets to acquire a player you’d just sign in the offseason? Use assets to TRADE for a guy that has multiple years left that will make your team better AND more attractive when you look to sign Machado.
Like trade for Chris Archer. That would be better than giving up prospects for a guy that will only cost money in 4 months.
Sometimes waiting until the trade deadline will cost you more due to increased competition and you could have had the guy for twice as much time if you traded for him earlier. If you think he is the key, then go for it. If you suddenly slip, then you flip him at the deadline and get some of it back.
He’s not a player to win you the series! It’s all about who has the best arms! The Yankees would be better off staying clear of him at the deadline and next year! The Yankees have to think pitching!!
Andujar is no Machado, however, his .881 OPS puts the Yanks in a position where they shouldn’t be pressed to pursue Machado for 3 months.
Give him a while and he’ll be more than good enough! Why would anyone spend $400 mill on anybody!
Phils and O’s trade…
Phils give up Nick Williams, Adam Haseley and Sixto Sanchez for Manny. Who says no first?
O’s everyday
For a rental (I know its Machado but still) you think the o’s can get more than a top 20 prospect a decent outfielder and a solid outfield prospect?
That’s not a ridiculously bad offer. We’d certainly target another young pitching prospect over Nick Williams. Don’t think there’s much value in NW, though he is the kind of high K power hitter the Orioles like.
Phillies will say no, No way they give up Sixto Sanchez for a rental. He’s gonna be the next ace coming through their system. I would just sign him in free agency if I was the phillies.
Elbow trouble at 19. Hate to see that.
The number one goal for every team is to go to and win the World Series. These star players don’t come around often so a chance to land one on your team for prospects, why wouldn’t you. Who knows what type of player you will get, most of the top prospect won’t be an elite player such as the Machedos Harpers, and trouts, that are playing now. Even if you lose in the playoffs or World Series you know you tried your best to win. If your lucky maybe after the year is over you sign him. I make sure if I traded for him and gave up prospects I resign him again no matter what.
An elite talent like Machado is going to take multiple prospects that can impact your team. Sure, they’re only prospects, but if you’re a team like ATL or PHI and on the verge of contending for the next few years, do you want to be the GM that watches your developed draftees headline your opposition possibly prolonging your rebuild? I’m all for taking the risk if you’re talking about a one-for-one (Beltran for Wheeler; Cespedes for Fulmer, etc.), but they’re going to want something substantial that some team is going to give up. Hopefully not my team.
I’m a Yankee fan I’ll give the farm for Bumgarner. That’s the piece they need to be better then the Astros and Red Sox. I’m not talking giving up our starters now andujar and Torres just straight up prospects cause the Yankees are loaded. Also I’ll take the lefty Brad Hand from the Padres lol we need lefty bullpen. Guy. Go Yankees
I appreciate Bums success but I really,really am turned off by his attitude. There’s something to be said about “culture” and I am NOT saying that Bum is a bad teammate but I DO like the clubhouse vibe that I think exists. Bum might not be the right kind of personality for NYC (like Randy Johnson wasn’t) and I think that SHOULD be factored in when they consider who to target for trade purposes. But also, the Giants are only a couple of games out of contention and unless they fade over the next 45 days and decide to try and do a quick retool (like Chapman/Yanks) then maybe. If Bum didn’t have a team option for 2019 then I think the Giants would be more likely to move him IF they had a verbal agreement to resign him after the season were over. The fact that he can be kept off the market for 2019 too makes it seem unlikely because I would assume the Giants are planing to compete in 2019 too.
LOL!
The Orioles won’t get 4 good players for Machado; they’ll end up with 3 with one elite prospect in the group. Bank on it. #Scoutseyes.
BSEYES!
It makes too much sense for the O’s to trade Machado by the deadline for solid young pitching. They’ll get some formidable offers they shouldn’t dismiss, but the fly in the ointment is Peter Angelos. Because he’ll ultimately have to sign off on any trade, I stand by my prediction that BAL will not trade Machado and will ultimately end up with only a comp pick once he departs in free agency.
It doesn’t have to be pitching. Look around the roster, who is going to be there in 2-3 years? Mancini and Sisco seem like the only locks with Hays and Mountcastle as the only potential impact minor league hitters that are close. Davis will still be around but let’s assume he still offers nothing. That leaves a lot of open slots around the diamond we need to fill. in 2-3 years we may arguably be better off in our rotation. Cobb, Bundy, maybe Gausman, Hess is an option, Hunter harvey could be an option. Some of our younger guys in the minors have flashed potential this season, We just need talent. it doesn’t matter where.
As an Orioles fan, I bet he ends up going to the Yankees as part of some three team trade. Just a hunch.
At this point the O’s best bet would be to give Machado away for nothing…as long as that team is willing to take on Chris Davis and his remaining ridiculous salary (4 more years – 92 million!). This team is going nowhere until they clear out the dead wood – which means players and front office/management.
Do you think any team in major league baseball values a single player at 92 million a half season? If you wanted to clear salary and get no return you could package him with Alex Cobb and Mark Trumbo. Or Angelos can pay the guys we have, because the team is still very profitable. Accepting anything less than the highest return for Machado would be idiotic. We won’t be good for years, and clearing salary won’t speed that up. The #1 pick will help, once we deal Machado it should be well in reach, We need to stock all the other talent we can in trades,
Take whatever package you’re putting together for Machado, and gear it towards landing James Paxton, Chris Archer, even MadBum (going nowhere, but still only 12M next year).
Having 1 of those 3 on the roster already will look pretty good to a Machado who wants to get paid AND win.
Chris archer is on pace for his third straight 4+ ERA season. He gets his K’s and he pitches in the ALE but he’s not an ace by any means. Go out and get him, he’ll make a lot of teams better but he shouldn’t draw in Machado. Machado is going to be drawn in by dollar signs anyway.
If the O’s were asking for Sixto Sanchez from the phillies then a good thing they would say no.