Report: Orioles continue to hear from multiple teams about Machado
Trading third baseman Manny Machado isn't the Baltimore Orioles' main focus anymore, president of baseball operations Dan Duquette indicated last week, but that doesn't mean teams have stopped calling about the three-time All-Star.
As January looms, the Orioles continue to hear from multiple teams interested in acquiring Machado, a source told Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, and it doesn't appear the club has a firm deadline for when to stop negotiations.
With Baltimore's playoff prospects looking bleak for 2018, Machado's last season before free agency, his fate for the upcoming campaign has been a major storyline this offseason. Earlier this month, Duquette said at the winter meetings he was "making good progress" toward a Machado trade - the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks have all been linked to him - but it was reported last week the Orioles were set to remove him from the trading block following a series of unimpressive offers. (Incidentally, the Yankees may not even be a viable trading partner, as Orioles owner Peter Angelos is reportedly disinclined to send Machado to New York, or even deal with a team that could ultimately flip him to the Yankees.)
Related: Several teams negotiating with Orioles reportedly believe Machado is staying put
In exchange for Machado, the Orioles are seeking two young, controllable starters, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, and team officials would reportedly prefer to move him now rather than at the trade deadline.
This past season, Machado - who won two Gold Glove awards as a third baseman but wants to play shortstop moving forward - managed just 2.8 WAR, his lowest total since 2014, while hitting 33 homers with a 102 wRC+ over 156 games. Since becoming a full-time player in 2013, though, Machado has become a franchise star and one of the game's top talents, managing an .809 OPS and 24.7 WAR over that span - tying him with Adrian Beltre for sixth-most in the majors - while averaging 26 homers and 34 doubles per season.