The Orioles may not wait until the trade deadline to ship off star shortstop Manny Machado to a new home.
According to The Athletic, Baltimore is accelerating trade talks for Machado because “they almost certainly will receive a greater return if they trade Machado with approximately three months of control remaining instead of two.”
There’s no shortage of teams with interest in Machado for the second half of the season, if not longer. According to reports, the Diamondbacks, Phillies, Dodgers and Indians are most firmly in the mix.
MLB.com reported the Phillies would love to add Machado to their clubhouse, but are more likely to wait until the end of the season when Machado hits free agency, while the D-backs are more likely to bring in Machado to bolster the left side of its infield.
USA Today was all over the Dodgers as a top landing spot for Machado as Corey Seager sits out this season after Tommy John surgery. Baltimore reportedly want Dodgers pitching prospect Dustin May, among others, in any potential deal.
As for Cleveland, adding Machado would simply be a luxury move as shortstop Fransisco Lindor is supplanted at shortstop. Current third baseman Jose Ramirez could slide over to second base and leave Machado to take over at the hot corner, but Machado has made it clear he believes he’s a shortstop, despite two Gold Glove awards at third.
The Indians won’t be challenged in the lowly AL Central, but putting Machado in the middle of its lineup could be what they need to end a 70-year title drought
Machado, still only 25, has hit .311 with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs so far in 2018. He's a .282 career hitter and has been named to the All-Star team three times, most recently in 2016.
Baltimore has struggled to open 2018 with a 24-60 record.