NEW L.A. KING
Dodgers deal five prospects to win the Machado sweeps
October will mark the 30th anniversary of the Dodgers’ last World Series title and they may now have the firepower to return to the Fall Classic for the second straight season in their quest for a seventh world championship.
In a move that likely makes them the National League favorites, the Dodgers acquired Manny Machado from the Orioles on Wednesday, a day after reports he was likely headed to Los Angeles.
Baltimore shopped Machado — a four-time All-Star and former Gold Glove winner — around, talking to the Yankees, Brewers, Phillies and Indians, among others. Machado will be a free agent following this season.
“Manny Machado provided Orioles fans with many great memories over his eight years in Birdland,” Orioles general manager Dan Duquette said in a statement. “We will always appreciate his talent and we wish him the best in the National League.”
The 26-year-old superstar, who moved back to his natural position at shortstop from third base this season, is a pricey rental, coming over for five prospects. Yusniel Diaz, a 21-year-old Double-A outfielder who homered twice in the Futures Game and is considered one of the Dodgers’ top prospects, headlines the package. Also included are four other minor leaguers: right-handed pitchers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop, third baseman Rylan Bannon and second baseman Breyvic Valera.
Machado, who is hitting .315 with 24 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .963 OPS in 96 games this season, immediately gains 25 wins and goes from one of the worst teams in baseball to arguably the NL’s best. He has hit at least 30 home runs and 30 doubles each of the past three seasons, and is one of just three players in baseball to reach those marks every year since 2015.
The Dodgers (53-43) currently lead the Diamondbacks by a halfgame in the NL West despite struggling over their first 42 games, when they went 16-26.
The Dodgers lost All-Star shortstop Corey Seager to season-ending Tommy John surgery after 26 games and were without cornerstones Justin Turner and Clayton Kershaw for large stretches due to injury. But led by reclamation projects Max Muncy and Matt Kemp, they surged into the All-Star break, and now have landed the market’s big fish a few weeks before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.