Machado dealt, but other hitters are still available
Royals’Moustakas brings World Series experience, power.
Manny Machado will be wearinganewuniformwhen he plays his next game, and other hitters will be on the move in the next couple weeks.
The Dodgers won the Machado sweepstakes, getting theprizedAll-Star shortstop from the Orioles in a trade Wednesday night.
Machado, a 26-year-old power hitter with extraordinary fifielding skills, greatly improves the Dodgers’ chances of reaching the World Series for a second consecutive year. He led Baltimore in batting average (.315), home runs (24) and RBIs (65).
Even after the Machado trade, teamsseeking toboost their offffffffffffense will have several options to land a big bat.
Here are somehitterswho may have newteams before the July 31 non- waiver trade deadline:
■ Mike Moustakas, Royals: After hitting a career-best 38 homers last year, the twotime All-Star third baseman didn’t get a lucrative deal in free agency and returned on a one-year deal for $6.5million plus amutual option for 2019. He has 19 homers and 58 RBIs but is only batting .249 for the the majors.
■ AsdrubalCabrera, Mets: The 32-year-old infifielder is batting .281 with 17 homers and 52 RBIs for haplessNew York. Cabrera is a switch hitter who would give a team versatility and pop. He’s also slatedto become a free agent after the season.
■ Eduardo Escobar, Twins: The versatile infifielder has a .271 average, 14 homers and 57 RBIs with 35 doubles for Minnesota. He’s making $4.85 million this season and will be a free agent in the fall.
■ Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays: The 2015 AL MVP is struggling through an injury-riddled season and has only played 36 games, but he averaged 35 homers and 100 RBIs between 2014-17 and is entering free agency after the season.
■ NickCastellanos, Tigers: He’s having another strong season for Detroit after hitting 26 homers and knocking in 101 runs last year. The 26-year-oldrightfifielder isbatting .305 with 15homers and 56 RBIs and is under team control for another season.
■ Wilson Ramos, Rays: An All-Star catcher for the second time in three years, Ramos is batting .297 with 14 homers and 53 RBIs for Tampa Bay. But he injured hishamstring and is heading to the disabled list, decreasing his trade value. worst team in