Manny to Dodgers for five prospects
The Dodgers won the Manny Machado sweepstakes Wednesday, acquiring the prized shortstop in a trade with the Orioles.
The Orioles received five prospects in the deal: Class AAA second baseman Breyvic Valera, Class AA outfielder Yusniel Diaz, Class AA right-handers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop and Class A third baseman Rylan Bannon.
Machado, a 26-year-old power hitter with extraordinary fielding skills, greatly improves the Dodgers’ chances of reaching the World Series for a second consecutive season. He led the Orioles in batting average (.315), home runs (24) and RBI (65) and is expected to be in the lineup when the Dodgers open a road series Friday in Milwaukee.
Machado’s contract expires after the season, and the last-place Ori- oles decided against negotiating an expensive, multiyear extension because they have too many holes and must start rebuilding.
In Machado, the Dodgers get a four-time All-Star with two Gold Gloves who has hit 129 homers in the last 3½ seasons.
Hader to get sensitivity training
Brewers reliever Josh Hader will be required to go through sensitivity training after years-old racist and homophobic posts on his Twitter account resurfaced during the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Washington, Major League Baseball said.
MLB said the commissioner’s office would require Hader to participate in diversity and inclusion initiatives in addition to the sensitivity training. Brewers general manager David Stearns said in a statement that the team would continue to work through the issue with Hader.
Several of Hader’s tweets from 2011 and 2012 came to light while he was pitching in the All-Star Game. Hader, 24, learned of the situation when he left the game, apologized and took responsibility for the tweets, saying they did not reflect his values or the person he is now.
‘‘He made a mistake 7 years ago,’’ Brewers teammate Jesus Aguilar tweeted. ‘‘He admitted, he apologized and most important: He learned from it. Regarding accusations of racism: I’m Venezuelan and with the skin color that I have can tell you that it is a lie. Obviously he’s not racist. He’s a great player and a better person. Great teammate.’’
Angels laud Trout’s values
The Angels publicly praised outfielder Mike Trout ‘‘for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion’’ a day after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Trout would be an even bigger star if he would spend more time marketing himself.
The team released a statement extolling Trout for the time he spends visiting hospitals, schools and charities and the quality time he spends with family.
‘‘We applaud him for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion,’’ the statement said. ‘‘That is rare in today’s society and stands out as much as his extraordinary talent.’’