Machado deals with rumors at All-Star Game
The Los Angeles WASHINGTON —
Dodgers are making preparations to welcome Manny Machado into their pennant race.
Los Angeles entered the All-Star break with a half-game lead over second-place Arizona in the NL West, and there’s a good chance the Dodgers will begin play Friday in Milwaukee with a four-time AllStar at shortstop. Machado will undoubtedly be dealt by the Baltimore Orioles before the July nonwaiver trade deadline, and speculation centered upon a Wednesday swap with Los Angeles.
“I had a conversation with Manny. He’s a great guy, man, and we would love to have him here,” Dodgers All-Star closer Kenley Jansen said Tuesday night.
The Dodgers begin a 10-game trip out of the break, and they’d love to have Machado dressed in Dodger blue.
“I think the sky’s the limit. We can do damage,” Jansen said. “Let’s see what’s going to happen.”
If Machado heads to the Dodgers, he will likely get to wear his coveted No. 13, now worn by first baseman Max Muncy. “He deserves that number,” Jansen said.
In spite of the media that followed his every move, Machado did his best Tuesday to enjoy himself. He walked the red carpet shirtless in a double-breasted suit, took a couple selfies on the field and smiled through six innings of carefree baseball.
When he was done, Machado peeled off his Orioles uniform for perhaps the final time.
Then he walked out of Nationals Stadium with his family, not bothering to stick around after the game to answer another round of questions about a potential trade that would end his stay in Baltimore — perhaps before the Orioles return from the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.
During BP, Machado joked with Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp outside the cage.
Then came the game. Machado went 0 for 2 — a fly ball and a pop-up — before exiting for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
“I’m just trying to enjoy this moment with the American League guys,” Machado told Fox in the dugout. “If this is the last time (in a Baltimore uniform), hopefully I treated them well and did everything I can for the organization.”
Machado wasn’t the only AllStar facing the prospect of switching teams in the next two weeks. Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and pitchers Jacob deGrom (Mets), J.A. Happ (Blue Jays), Blake Snell (Rays) and Brad Hand (Padres) could be headed to contenders.
“Starting pitching is always big during the trade deadline, whether it’s me or somebody else who’s having a good year,” said deGrom, 30, a member of the Mets for his entire career.