It sure sounds like Manny Machado has played his last game with the Orioles

Tonight is the All-Star Game, of course, which means we get to see a whole bunch of the game’s best players on the same field wearing different uniforms. It’s a strange scene, and one that many are cynically “over” at this point in their lives. This particularly writer still digs the All-Star Game, but that is neither here nor there. It’s the fact that the players wear their individual teams’ uniforms that I want to focus on here, because it takes on a little extra significance this year. As it turns out, there is an increasingly good chance that Tuesday will be the last time we see Manny Machado in an Orioles uniform. That it will come in a game that does not count at all for the Orioles franchise is, well, extremely Orioles.

The rumors were flying quickly and furiously on Monday, both leading up to and during the Home Run Derby. Early in the day, there were some whispers started by Barstool Sports that indicated a deal was done between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Later in the day two Orioles beat writers, Roch Kubatkoand Brittany Ghiroli, contradicted those reports. Both acknowledged that the process was close to over, but things haven’t been narrowed down to just one team just yet. Then, finally, as Bryce Harper was putting on a show to win the Home Run Derby in front of his hometown fans, Jon Heyman dropped a report saying a deal is “very close.” All of this is to say, it’s happening, you guys.

So, based on all of these reports, it seems that there are three tiers of contenders in the Machado sweepstakes. The Phillies are alone in the top tier and the signs still point to them being the favorite. It helps that they have always been expected to pursue the star infielder in the coming offseason, too. It also came out last night that they are willing to include prospect Adonis Medina in any deal, which will help them out. Right behind them are the Brewers and Dodgers, who aren’t going away but seem to be falling behind. Then, there’s the Yankees, who appear to be all but out of the sweepstakes. Ultimately, it sure seems like he’s going to be making an impact on the NL East race for a team that is in the exact position to justify this kind of move. One thing that seems all but certain, however, is that Machado isn’t going to play in another game for the Orioles. At least, not one that matters.