Machado’s powerful bat heads to Dodgers
Orioles land five top prospects for All-star
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the Manny Machado sweepstakes, getting the prized All-star shortstop from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade Wednesday night.
The Orioles received five prospects in the deal, including former UNLV right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer. Also heading to Baltimore from the Dodgers’ system are outfielder Yusniel Diaz, third baseman Rylan Bannon, righty Zach Pop and third baseman
Breyvic Valera.
Machado,
26, a power hitter and an extraordinary fielder, 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).
Machado is expected to be introduced in Milwaukee on Friday before the Dodgers open a series against the Brewers.
Machado’s contract expires at the end of the season, and the last-place Orioles decided against negotiating an expensive, multiyear extension because they have too many holes and are entering a rebuilding mode.
Though only a summer rental, Machado was coveted by a variety of contenders, including Philadelphia, Milwaukee, the Chicago Cubs and Arizona, currently a half-game behind the first-place Dodgers in the NL West.
Los Angeles gets a four-time AL All-star with two Gold Gloves who has 129 homers over the last 3½ seasons. Machado was drafted third overall by the Orioles in 2010, made
MACHADO Orioles get
his big league debut in 2012 and spent his entire major league career in Baltimore.
The Dodgers are filling a gaping hole at shortstop created by the loss of Corey Seager, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May.
And Machado moves from a cellar-dweller to a division-leading club in the middle of a pennant race. Not only that, but Machado likely gets to stay at shortstop, the position he manned this year after previously playing third base for Baltimore.
“I love playing short. I mean, I love it,” Machado said last week.
“I’m more excited playing shortstop than I’ve ever been. I’m more into the game. This is where I’ve always wanted to be, this is what brings the best player out of me.”
Chris Taylor has been playing shortstop for the Dodgers, but his numbers are down from last season.
With Machado at short, the Dodgers could move Taylor to second instead of Logan Forsythe, offensive sensation Max Muncy to first, last year’s Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger to center and still have Enrique Hernandez available to play numerous infield and outfield positions.
The Dodgers still need to bolster their bullpen, which has been hit by a number of injuries.
The top acquisition for the Orioles in the deal is Diaz, 21, an outfielder in Double-a. He hit two home runs in the All-star Futures Game last weekend and this season is batting .314 with a .905 OPS with six homers and 30 RBIS.
Kremer, 22, had a 4.92 ERA in 15 games as a junior in 2016 for UNLV, with 46 strikeouts and 21 walks in 92 1/3 innings.
The Stockton, California, native was drafted by the Dodgers in the 14th round in 2016. In three minor-league seasons he has a 3.78 ERA in 197 2/3 innings with 256 strikeouts.