There have been rumors that the Baltimore Orioles are shopping Manny Machado. That may just be posturing as they look to sign their star to an extension.
The closest the Baltimore Orioles have gotten to a big story this winter has been signing Manny Machado to a pretty pricy contract for one year. The second closest they’ve gotten is moving Manny Machado to shortstop. Next, presumably, Manny will take up sword juggling for coins in a hat near the aquarium.
Behind these stories (minus the coin thing), the assumption is solidifying that Machado is on his way out the door in Baltimore, and there are some real arguments for that. First, assuming a recovery from his .259 batting average last season and his regular power production, Machado will likely want a long, eye-popping contract a very wealthy team could afford more easily than the Orioles. After all, he is “one of the best players in baseball.” Second, Baltimore VP of Baseball Operations Brady Anderson has gone on the record that he doesn’t like “chasing your own free agents around.” Third, my gut says he’s gone, for what that’s worth.
But…
Here’s the question about Machado related to his expected departure: If he’s so gone, why would manager Buck Showalter accommodate his desire to play shortstop? He’s been asking for that for years, and the Orioles had essentially ignored the request until an injury to J.J. Hardy gave Machado 45 games there in 2016.
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Moreover, Tim Beckham will have to slide back to short for 2019, if Manny disappears after this coming season. Why disrupt his MLB experience at the position? Note also: Beckham was not exactly chopped liver at short, hitting .278 overall for the Rays and O’s largely at number six on your scorecard (.306 at Baltimore). His fielding percentage was .962 with 475 chances at short.
Here’s an essential truth, however (with a prelude): While Beckham really can’t complain about a position change going into the year before his arbitration, it’s not as though Machado wouldn’t have an incentive to play third base well this year. It’s his contract year. Also, there will be other “star alternatives” among free agents at the end of ’18.
So, what is Brady Anderson doing when he makes a remark about “chasing” one’s own free agents after paying one $16 million to avoid arbitration with him? It’s called staking out a bargaining position with someone you actually want to keep. Otherwise, giving that player the position change he wants makes no sense. The O’s could have just thrown a potential few million dollars more at Manny in a lost arbitration decision (they may well have won), and told him to report to third base, where he’s been an All-Star.
Next: Fallout from Machado moving to short
The Baltimore Orioles are still thinking about keeping Manny Machado.