Machado trade rumors grab attention
Manny Machado could very well have been wearing an Orioles uniform for the final time last night at the All-Star Game in Washington.
The pending trade of the Baltimore shortstop is expected to happen soon, probably before the Orioles return to play in Toronto on Friday night.
Machado was the center of attention hours before the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969. All the speculation, the endless questions and the buzzing around his locker couldn’t put a damper on the 26-year-old slugger.
“It’s awesome,” Machado said. “Every time you put on the Oriole uniform it’s always a great blessing, and you always want the opportunity to put that on. Just put it on, go play shortstop when I get my name announced. I know there’s going to be some Baltimore fans out there, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
But the trade is going to happen. And soon. But to which team? The Dodgers? Phillies? Brewers?
Machado insisted he knew nothing of a deal.
Answering many of the same queries he’s fielded for months, Machado said: “I haven’t heard anything. I’m just worried about the game today, and whatever happens moving forward will happen. There will be a time and place for everything.”
By the end of the week, he could be wearing a new uniform and playing in a different league.
Machado is signed through the end of the season, but the Orioles can’t afford to provide him a new, huge contract as well as rebuild a team that currently stands in last place in the AL East, 391⁄2 games out.
On the defensive
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is defending teams’ reluctance to sign free agents last offseason and says players union head Tony Clark has not responded to a pair of invitations to have a broad discussion about players’ concerns and changes in the way the game is played.
Manfred said “the only purposeful behavior that took place in the free-agent market last year is our clubs carefully analyzed the available players and made individual decisions as to what they thought those players were worth. I’m pretty sure, based on what’s already in the books, you’re going to make the judgment that the clubs made sound decisions as to how those players should be valued. That’s how markets operate.”
Players consider teams’ reluctance to sign free agents last offseason “a direct attack” on their rights, says Clark. He hinted that the sport’s quarter-century of labor peace could end if concerns are not addressed.
More than 100 free agents remained unsigned when spring training began. Many signed at a fraction of the price they thought they were worth and many received shorter deals than they expected.
Baseball had eight work stoppages from 1966-95 but has had peace since. The current labor contract runs through the 2021 season.
Talking about rules
Manfred also is outlining concerns in the way the sport has changed and says owners want a broad conversation with players about rules changes.
Manfred cites concerns include the time between putting balls in play, the increased number of strikeouts, the increase in home runs, the far greater use of infield shifts, the lessened length of starting pitcher outings and the increase in the use of relief pitchers.
He maintains the changes are the result of “smart people who want to win more” in front offices and says MLB and the players must decide “at what point do we want to step in, OK, and manage that organic change.”
Wild card series?
Union boss Clark favors expanding the wild card playoff from one game to a series, but admits there are scheduling challenges.
Major League Baseball began winner-take-all, one-game playoffs in each league in 2012, when the postseason field was expanded from eight to 10. In the AL East this year, the Red Sox or Yankees could wind up as a wild card with a record that projects to about 106 wins.
Clark says “having a series is always better for a player in a lot of ways than a one-game playoff” and adds “it would be great if we can find a way in the future to have that first game be a series, but there are some challenges there.”
The schedule currently starts in the last week of March and the World Series sometimes ends in November. And division winners might not like having an extended break before the playoffs, Clark notes.