Ever since Corey Seager required season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to another All-Star shortstop, Manny Machado, of the Baltimore Orioles.
Given that Machado is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, the Dodgers had shown some restraint amidst the Orioles’ reported high asking price.
There certainly wasn’t a lack of demand for Machado, as the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly showing interest as well. The Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Phillies seemingly alternated as the perceived frontrunners to complete a trade with the Orioles over recent weeks.
But within the past day it became apparent Los Angeles and Baltimore were poised to agree to terms on a deal.
There was a delay due to some medical concerns but that was resolved and the Dodgers acquired Machado in exchange for Yusniel Diaz, Dean Kremer, Rylan Bannon, Zach Pop and Breyvic Valera, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Orioles getting Diaz, Kramer, Bannon, Pop, Valera, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 18, 2018
In a mild surprise, the Dodgers are not receiving cash considerations in the trade:
Source confirms: No cash going from #Orioles to #Dodgers. Machado owed about $6.3M for rest of season, but LAD still projected to be under luxury-tax threshold. Getting close to $197M threshold, though, as team also seeks a reliever.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 18, 2018
What the Dodgers are getting in Machado is a four-time All-Star and one of the faces of the game of baseball that will likely slide right into the No. 3 spot in the lineup. In 96 games with the Orioles this season, he batted .315/.387/.575 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI.
There was some expectation that Logan Forsythe or another player from the Dodgers’ Major League roster would be included in the deal as a means of shedding salary, however that likelihood was all but ruled out late Tuesday night.
Diaz was the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com. The 21-year-old is currently having a breakout season with Double-A Tulsa, hitting .314/.428/.477 with six home runs and 30 RBI in 59 games. He hit two home runs in the Futures Game this past week in Washington D.C.
Bannon was the organization’s 27th-best prospect. He had an impressive .296/.402/.559 slashline with 20 home runs in 89 games for High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Kremer, who was the No. 28 prospect for the Dodgers, made 17 starts between Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa. The 22-year-old was 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.15 WHIP.
Neither Pop nor Valera were among the top 30 prospects in the organization. Pop appeared in 30 games out of the bullpen between Low-A Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga, yielding a 1.04 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.
Valera, who the Dodgers acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this season, has split time between Triple-A Oklahoma City and the big leagues. The utility infielder slashed .172/.273/.172 in 34 Major League plate appearances.
With Machado in the fold, it allows for even more flexibility across the diamond. Chris Taylor could slide over to second base or shift back to the outfield. Though, Machado could first fill in at third base for Justin Turner, who missed the final three games before the All-Star break due to an adductor injury.
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