Marlins’ alumni grow with Ozuna
year, and is intent on reducing obligations. Stanton was owed $295 million over the next decade, and Gordon $38 million through 2020.
Meanwhile, Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado could be on the move — to a new position or a new team.
Big names have emerged in trade talks with Machado, New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey and Detroit pitcher Michael Fulmer heating up the winter meetings.
Pitching is always at a premium, and the Chicago Cubs have completed two-year contracts for reliever Brandon Morrow and pitcher Drew Smyly, expected to miss next season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Morrow's deal includes a 2020 club option that could become guaranteed depending on his performance. Smyly's contract is worth $10 million.
A more intriguing possibility, for any club, is Machado.
At 25, he's already a threetime All-Star and two-time Gold Glover at third base. Plus, he's a power bat, hitting 33 home runs with 95 RBIs last season.
Machado had an $11.5 million salary last season, is eligible for arbitration and can become a free agent after next year's World Series. That's prompted questions about whether the last-place Orioles can afford him, or if he'd even want to stick around Camden Yards. Or if they'd be better off trading him to guarantee something in return.
In the meantime, Machado is indicating he'd like to shift over to shortstop. The spot is open now that J.J. Hardy has become a free agent.
Machado made his bigleague debut as a third baseman in 2012 with the Orioles and has made 49 starts at shortstop, most of them in 2016 when Hardy was hurt.