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Baltimore Orioles Shouldn’t Even Be Thinking About Trading Machado

By Greg Goldstein

Sep 15, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts after flying out in the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts after flying out in the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Recently there has been a lot talk about the epic 2018 MLB free agent class. But the Baltimore Orioles shouldn’t even be looking down the road about what a Manny Machado trade might look like.

It seems that many MLB pundits are already salivating over the free agent class two years down the road because some of the game’s best will be available to sign with any club. However, aside from Bryce Harper, Manny Machado will probably be the second best player available in 2018 if he continues to put up the numbers we’ve grown accustomed to.

Machado will be just 26 years old and coming into the prime of his career when he hits the open market. You saw the type of money an inconsistent young superstar like Jason Heyward got last winter. Just imagine what Machado might get. Giancarlo Stanton signed a contract extension for 13 years and $325 million last offseason. Machado will certainly be looking get more than this with multiple teams vying for his services. I would say that the two-time All-Star will be looking to crack the $350 million mark for sure.

Buster Olney even wrote an article (ESPN Insider only) outlining how the Orioles may need to deal Machado because of the incredible financial commitment Baltimore would need to make.

We know the that the Orioles are not a team that likes to give long-term deals in free agency, even though they did just give slugger Chris Davis $161 million over seven years. However, this contract does seem like a relatively small commitment when looking at the type of money that their third baseman will demand when he becomes a free agent. Will owner Peter Angelos and general manager Dan Duquette pull out the checkbook to bring back Machado? When looking at the team’s philosophy it doesn’t seem like they are in position to do so.

But even with all of this being said, a Machado trade is not something that the Orioles should even be considering at the moment. Right now, the club is coming off its second playoff appearance in three years. Two years ago the Orioles were four wins away from the World Series. Yes, the O’s clearly do have noticeable flaws that make it seem that the championship window may have passed them by. However, I would argue that these next two years are the best chance that the team will have to do serious damage in the postseason.

In addition to Machado, Zach Britton, Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, J.J. Hardy, Brad Brach and Ubaldo Jimenez (just kidding) will be entering free agency over the next two years. This is a core that has made the Orioles the winningest team in the American League since 2012. But the question should not be if the Orioles should trade all these players now; instead, do they have the roster to make a postseason push? In my estimation, there is a chance that the Orioles can make a run at a World Series, if a lot of things go right.

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Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy flashed at times during the 2016 season. The Orioles still have one of the better lineups in the league even after losing the likes of Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz, Matt Wieters and potentially Mark Trumbo. The bullpen could be the best in baseball, yes, even better than Cleveland’s. Zach Britton is the best relief pitcher in baseball and Brad Brach, Darren O’Day and Mychal Givens form a highly capable bridge to the ninth inning.

The Red Sox did become a strong favorite in the American League with the addition of Chris Sale, but the Orioles can no doubt still be as competitive as they have been over the past five seasons. I’m not saying that the Orioles are a perfect team or even a capable World Series competitor. But even thinking about dealing Manny Machado would be a slap in the face to a team that has the talent to win in this league.

It’s never a bad idea to look down the road, but Dan Duquette’s main focus right now should be building a team that can at the very least play in October. Not every team has a chance to unload a talent like Machado every day and the O’s need to build around him now because this may be Baltimore’s last couple of chances to have this strong of a roster. At the very least, wait till next offseason to start worrying about losing its best ballplayer.

Next: What to Expect from Jimmy Rollins?

Should the Orioles consider trading Machado in 2017? Let us know in the comment section below.

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