Dodgers acquire Manny Machado from Orioles

The biggest buzz surrounding the MLB All-Star Game was where Manny Machado would end up. After three days of speculation and weeks of swirling rumors, we have our answer. The Baltimore Orioles agreed Wednesday to trade their All-Star shortstop to the Los Angeles Dodgers, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.

The prospect package going to Baltimore is headlined by Double-A outfielder Yusniel Diaz, along with pitchers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop and infielders Breyvic Valera and Rylan Bannon, per multiple reports.

A report Wednesday morning from former Mets general manager Steve Phillips, now a host for MLB Network Radio, suggested a potential “snag” in the trade because of a medical issue from the physical one of the prospects from the Dodgers. But by the afternoon that was cleared up, per Roch Kubatko of MASN, with only “final points to review.”

Machado was the talk of All-Star festivities in Washington D.C., with several reports having Baltimore closing in on a deal, with the All-Star Game his final time wearing an Orioles uniform.

“A lot of trade rumors, it kind of did cross my mind if I was going to be able to put on this jersey,” Machado said on Monday, per Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. “But I’m here, I love putting on this jersey, I’ve been putting it on for the last eight years. Whether it’s the last time I put it on or not, it’s going to be something special.”

Machado was interviewed in the dugout by Rosenthal during the All-Star Game broadcast on Fox on Tuesday.

“It was a tremendous honor to wear this [Orioles] uniform. They gave me the opportunity to come to the big leagues. That’s everyone’s dream. They gave me the opportunity to play shortstop,” Machado said. “If this is the last time, hopefully I treated them well, and did everything I could for the organization.”

Machado is having his finest offensive season this year, hitting .315/.387/.575 with 24 home runs, after averaging 35 home runs and 34 doubles per season from 2015-17. He made three All-Star teams and won a pair of Gold Glove Awards at third base before switching to his natural position of shortstop in 2018.

Having just turned 26 earlier in July, Machado will be one of the most desirable names on the market this offseason. His pending free agency provided a trade impetus for the Orioles, who decided to get what they could now rather than wait for him to sign elsewhere and receive only a compensatory draft pick.

Machado is making $16 million this season, and with roughly 2½ months remaining there is just over $6.3 million left.

That salary is a sticking point for the Dodgers, who began the season at an estimated $182 million in payroll relative to the competitive balance tax threshold of $197 million, and that was before considering earned incentives throughout the season or other additions they might also make, such as the bullpen.

Machado makes sense for the Dodgers, who lost two-time All-Star shortstop Corey Seager for the season after Tommy John surgery at the end of April. The versatility of Chris Taylor has helped, with last year’s starting center fielder filling in nicely at shortstop in Seager’s absence. With Machado around, Taylor could presumably play second base, where the Dodgers are hitting .221/.323/.336 this season, ranking 27th in the majors at the position in batting average and slugging percentage and tied for 21st in home runs (seven). The Dodgers emphasis on utility gives them several defensive configuration options, with Cody Bellinger (first base, center field), Max Muncy (first base, second base, third base) and Kiké Hernandez (everywhere but pitcher and catcher) all playing multiple positions, in addition to Taylor.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, an All-Star in 2018 after getting reacquired by the Dodgers in December, said he spoke with Machado on Monday.

“I know Manny, I’ve worked out in the offseason with him before. We talk all the time,” said Kemp, per Dan Connolly of The Athletic. “Any hitter of his caliber can help the team in a big way, of course.”

The Dodgers (53-43) are in first place in the National League West, with a half-game lead on the Diamondbacks.

The Orioles also reportedly received offers from the Diamondbacks, Brewers, Phillies, Braves, Indians and Cubs.

Diaz is a 21-year-old outfielder the Dodgers signed out of Cuba for $15.5 million in 2015, hitting .314/.428/.477 with 20 extra-base hits in 59 games and more walks (41) than strikeouts (39) for Double-A Tulsa. Diaz, who was ranked the Dodgers’ third-best prospect in Baseball America’s midseason rankings, hit two home runs for the World Team in the Futures Game on Sunday in Washington D.C.

Bannon is a 22-year-old second baseman hitting .296/.402/.559 in Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, and is leading the California League with 20 home runs. Bannon was an eighth-round selection in 2017.

Kremer has a 3.03 ERA in 17 starts this season, all but one in Class-A, with 125 strikeouts in 86 innings. The Dodgers’ 14th-round selection in 2016 out of UNLV, Kremer was promoted to Double-A last week and struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings in his first start with Tulsa.

Pop had a 1.04 ERA in 30 relief appearances across both Class-A levels this season, after getting drafted in the seventh round in 2017.

The switch-hitting Valera appeared in 20 games for the Dodgers this season, seeing time at second base, third base and right field, going 5-for-29 (.172) with four walks. His inclusion in the deal opens a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster for Machado.