Machado makes debut with Dodgers
The second half of the Major League Baseball season kicked off in Milwaukee on Friday, but not quite the way the Brewers had hoped.
Already dealing with the Josh Hader controversy, they could only watch and wonder “what if” as Manny Machado was officially introduced as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers hours before the two teams met on the field.
“I know they were in the running as well,” Machado said of the Brewers. “It’s kind of weird being here right away on the opposite side. But it was always fun, all the rumors, everything going on and all the teams that wanted me. I was beyond grateful that they actually wanted me to help their ballclub out.
“That being said, here with L.A., they did everything possible to bring me here and help their ballclub, and I’m beyond excited to come here and go out there and be myself and try to win some games.
“At the end of the day that’s all that matters to me.”
Machado, 26, was the biggest name known to be available on the trade market and according to reports the Brewers and Dodgers were the two teams who pushed hard to land the all-star shortstop.
Ultimately Los Angeles won out by offering the Baltimore Orioles a package of five minor-leaguers headlined by the organization’s No. 4 prospect, outfielder Yusniel Díaz.
Milwaukee was rumored to be offering an assortment of players that included outfielder Brett Phillips and minor-league right-hander Luis Ortiz but balked at including top pitching prospect Corbin Burnes, who’s currently a part of the Brewers’ bullpen.
At various points, the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks were also reported to have expressed interest in Machado, who’s having a career year with a .315 average, 24 home runs and 65 runs batted in with an OPS of .963.
He’s expected to play both shortstop and third base for an already loaded Dodgers team. With the Brewers he would have been the team’s everyday shortstop while solidifying the middle of a lineup that already has plenty of pop but has been far too inconsistent overall.
“We thought Manny was the most impactful player that was on the market at the time, and I think any contender could see that he could make a positive impact for them,” said Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi.
Machado started at shortstop and batted second for the Dodgers.
Welcome back: The Brewers had an open spot on their 25-man roster after optioning pitcher Alec Asher back to Class AAA Colorado Springs on Tuesday, and they filled it before the game Friday by reinstating catcher Manny Piña from the 10-day disabled list.
Piña, who’d been out since July 8 with a left biceps strain, got the start behind the plate after just one game and four at-bats worth of minor-league rehab. Those came Thursday at Class A Wisconsin.
He’s had an underwhelming season at the plate to this point with a .227 average, six homers and 16 RBI, but Piña still offers the Brewers the best combination of offense and defense. Erik Kratz and rookie Jacob Nottingham had been splitting the catching duties with Piña out.
“We’ve withstood a lot,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ve had injuries, we’ve had a bigger kind of volume of them the last couple weeks that really, it’s tested us, it’s been difficult. I think we’re on track to be getting more healthy.
“Hopefully it’s going to feel like kind of daily we’re making progress and getting guys back. Manny is the first one and so he’s ready to go, he’s back in the lineup.”
Counsell said next up for a return will be leftfielder Ryan Braun, who’s been on the DL since July 8 with a back issue.
“I anticipate Ryan being active tomorrow,” Counsell said. “I just wanted one more (day), just kind of see how he responded today after the workout yesterday, let him go through it again, another full day of activity, and I think we’re in a good place there to have him ready to go tomorrow.”