The Philadelphia Phillies are in heated discussions with the Baltimore Orioles for their superstar third baseman/shortstop Manny Machado. Do they have enough in their arsenal to pry him away
The talents of Manny Machado are wasting away in Margaritaville, well, they might as well be with how awful the Baltimore Orioles are in 2018. The O’s slugger is having an MVP caliber season thus far in Baltimore — slashing .317/ .384/ .604, with 76 hits, 18 home runs, 15 double, 50 RBIs, and 32 runs scored.
Adding icing on the cake, Manny Machado boasts an impressive fielding percentage of .981 — with only five errors in 261 chances. Keep in mind that he’s playing shortstop this season and not his traditional third base position he’s played most of his career.
The play of Manny Machado has not gone unnoticed, especially on the East coast, with the Philadelphia Phillies wanting to snag the prized possession up out of the hands of the Baltimore Orioles — according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports.
Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Phillies have "reached out" to the Orioles about a Manny Machado trade.
— Sapere Aude (@PrimaScriptura) June 8, 2018
Baltimore Orioles General Manager Dan Duquette admits:
"“We don’t need to negotiate in the press, but I can tell you there are more teams interested now (than the winter). If you’re interested in making an impact, this is the player.”"
When asked about the Philadelphia Phillies having interest in Manny Machado, Duquette declined to comment. Heyman reveals, however, that the Phillies have indeed reached out to the Baltimore Orioles regarding Manny Machado and are, “love” him and appear to be the “favorite,” among other teams pursuing him.
The Baltimore Orioles must see the writing on the wall and are undoubtedly trying to get everything they can before Manny Machado walks as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. They want a viable replacement for Manny Machado and legit pitching if their talks are going to turn into an actual trade.
According to Heyman:
"The Phillies have some candidates to trade there, with third baseman Maikel Franco, young shortstop J.P. Crawford and two-second baseman in Scott Kingery (currently filling in at short while Crawford’s out) and Cesar Hernandez. The Phillies also have top pitching prospects, like Sixto Sanchez, but he’s further away."
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
That’s an awfully steep asking price by the Baltimore Orioles, one the Philadelphia Phillies better think about long and hard before they pull the trigger. But, Manny Machado is a once in a lifetime player, and if you can land him with promises of signing a long-term deal, then it’s a no a brainer.
According to Heyman other teams are in the running for Manny Machado, including the Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs, but the Philadelphia Phillies may be willing to part ways with their young talent to acquire the proven superstar.
Currently, the Philadelphia Phillies are looking for more production out of both the shortstop and third base position. Maikel Franco is only slashing .249 /.289/ .418 with eight home runs. S
J.P. Crawford is currently atop the Philadelphia Phillies depth chart at shortstop, hitting well below the Mendoza line (.186). Scott Kingery has logged 193 at-bats at the position also and isn’t faring much better — .212/.261/.582. To say they could use an upgrade at shortstop is the understatement of the season.
Next: Oregon State's Heimlich not selected in MLB Draft
Manny Machado will cost any MLB pursuer a pretty penny and likely half the farm (system). However, if the Philadelphia Phillies can land him and sign him through the prime of his career, they need to make it happen.