The All-Star Game was indeed Manny Machado’s last game in the Baltimore Orioles jersey. According to media reports, he will be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the start of the second half of the MLB season.
All around the All-Star Game in Washington/D.C. the rumor mill around the shortstop bubbled increasingly. Initially the circle of favourites of interested teams was reduced, but now the Dodgers have emerged as winners. Ken Rosenthal of FOX reported during the Midsummer Classics that the deal was indeed going to happen.
Machado, who this season beats .315 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI for a 164 OPS+, replacing Corey Seager, who has been injured for months. The Dodgers, who have just regained their form and taken the lead in the National League West, should have further consolidated their role as favourites.
The Orioles in turn receive a package of talents led by Outfielder Yusniel Diaz, the fourth-best prospect of the Dodgers organization. Diaz attracted attention not least on Sunday when he beat two home runs for the world team in the All-Star Futures Game.
Machado’s contract runs until the end of the season, after which he becomes a free agent for the first time in his career and is considered one of the biggest names in the upcoming market.
It is also speculated that the Dodgers could hand over another veteran like Logan Forsythe to undercut the luxury tax threshold this season, as the rest of Machados 2018 salary ($16 million in total) is likely to bring them over the threshold. However, such a move would have to be made in another trade, as the O’s don’t seem willing to take back an MLB player for Machado.
It is expected that the deal will be made official within the next 48 hours, but in any case before Friday.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.