The Los Angeles Dodgers, aggressive in their pursuit of shortstop Manny Machado, successfully landed the four-time All Star in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a hefty package of five prospects.
Machado represents the biggest prize of the trade deadline period, as he brings to Los Angeles a legitimate MVP-caliber bat and defensive versatility on the left side of the infield. He becomes the team’s latest deadline-acquisition who will possibly amount to being a rental.
When discussing the trade, Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi was adamant that the deal for Machado is with a clear focus on the 2018 season and not his looming free agency, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“This is about 2018 for us,” Zaidi said. “We hope he plays well, and creates a good market for himself. We’re not worried about what happens beyond 2018 right now.”
Machado is widely viewed as a rental for the Dodgers, much like the acquisition of Yu Darvish last summer, as he’ll become a free agent at season’s end.
The 26-year-old will command one of the most lucrative contracts in MLB history, given he’s just entering his prime and is already one of the best players the sport has to offer. But if Machado proves to thrive in Los Angeles, the Dodgers could attempt to hammer out an contract agreement with him this winter.
The possibility of doing so depends on a number of factors, including the club’s finances and whether they see a longterm fit for him on the roster going forward. Moreover, Clayton Kershaw could also become a free agent, should he opt out of his contract.
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