As the 2018 trade deadline approaches, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado is at the front of the rumor mill. Could the O’s send him to the Washington Nationals?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from trade deadlines of years past, it’s to undoubtedly expect the unexpected.
We can follow this mentality as this years bonanza approaches with the markets big fish, Manny Machado, in the crosshairs of numerous teams. In fact, seven teams have already made offers for the coveted shortstop, according to the Baltimore Sun’s Eduardo A. Encina.
We knew going into the Machado-sweepstakes that the Dodgers, Phillies, Braves and Diamondbacks would be major players. But, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested that a new team could be in the mix; the Washington Nationals.
"“But one team to watch is the Nationals. As they start to fade in the National League East, they too need a fix. What they would do with shortstop Trae Turner and/or third baseman Anthony Rendon is up to GM Mike Rizzo, but the Orioles probably would love to get Turner as part of a return package. The Nationals have the players that would entice the Orioles, including outfielder Victor Robles, 21, currently on the Triple A disabled list.”"
Cafardo raises some interesting points. For one, the Nationals certainly are fading. The team sits at a underwhelming record of 45-43 and is 4-6 in its last 10. Bryce Harper is hitting .219 and the team has yet to get over its inconsistent play.
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However, would the Nats really want to deal Trea Turner in a deal for Machado? The 25-year-old isn’t a free agent till 2023 and has hit for a .282 average with 11 HR’s and 37 RBI’s this season.
At third, Anthony Rendon has hit .280 with 12 HR’s, 39 RBI’s and a .858 OPS. The Nationals still have a few more seasons of him, as he’s a free agent in 2020.
It’s not like Washington has a glaring weakness on the left side of the infield. Adding a star of Machado’s caliber would be a massive boost to any team.
But, for Washington, a deal for the O’s star doesn’t quite seem necessary.
Could it be that GM Mike Rizzo is feeling the pressure to make a star acquisition?
It’s not hard to envision that after years of never really proving it in the postseason, Rizzo views Machado as potential lift to the franchise.
In any deal for him, the Nationals would be giving up significant assets. After gutting the farm in the Adam Eaton trade, would Victor Robles, Carter Kieboom or *gulp* Juan Soto be on the way out?
Well, probably not Soto, but Robles, Kieboom and Turner could all be pieces in a potential deal.
Of course, Machado becomes a free agent at seasons end, and so does Bryce Harper. With virtually zero chance of the resigning both stars, Nationals’ brass must ask the crucial question; is the half-season of Machado even worth it?
With a solid left side of the infield, it appears, at least from the outside, that Harper would be the smarter long-term keep. But, just as the trade deadlines of the past have taught us, we should always expect the unexpected.