Oh, this is going to be something. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado will be the best position-player rental ever available at the non-waiver deadline. The Orioles will want at least the same kind of package the New York Yankees received two years ago for closer Aroldis Chapman. But such a deal might not be available based upon the modest returns last season for the two biggest rentals, outfielder J.D. Martinez and right-hander Yu Darvish.Let’s ignore for a moment the Orioles might not operate coherently enough to successfully pull off a Machado blockbuster, ignore their history of quashing deals over medical concerns, ignore the power struggle within their organization that makes it difficult to know exactly who is in control.
Even if the Orioles had it together, they would need a combination of keen scouting and shrewd negotiating to get anything close to fair value for Machado. Such a deal, though, might not be possible even under the best of circumstances, considering the increasing reluctance — no, outright fear — most teams show when asked to trade top prospects.
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Position players generally are more difficult to trade at the deadline than during the off-season, when teams operate with greater flexibility. The Orioles, who did not like the offers they received for Machado over the winter, almost certainly will like the offers they receive before the deadline even less. A second executive who is unlikely to be involved in the pursuit of Machado said, “I could see them getting a borderline elite prospect in A ball for him. Doubtful the guy is at the upper levels unless the seller has reason to doubt him (like the Dodgers did with Calhoun).”
How the Orioles’ fractured management team will juggle all of the moving parts at the deadline is anyone’s guess. Machado will not be the only player the O’s shop; their other potential free agents include center fielder Adam Jones and relievers Zach Britton and Brad Brach, and they also would be open to moving others on their roster, though probably not long-term assets such as second baseman Jonathan Schoop and right-handers Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman.
As I’ve reported previously, Orioles executive vice-president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, in the final year of his contract, appears to have lost influence. But those in the organization who might lack confidence in Duquette to navigate the deadline — owner Peter Angelos’ sons, executive VP John Angelos and ownership representative Lou Angelos; VP of baseball operations Brady Anderson and manager Buck Showalter — hardly are experts at negotiating trades.
It’s going to be something, all right. The Orioles are about to auction off a gleaming asset. But it’s unclear who will run the auction, unclear if any team will give the O’s what they want, unclear if the best position-player rental ever available at the deadline will even get moved.
― mookieproof, Thursday, 7 June 2018 17:56 (five years ago) link