After a lackluster start to the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been the best team in all of baseball over the last month, which has vaunted themselves back into the postseason race.
Because of that, they are positioned to once again be buyers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and the biggest name that presumably will be available is Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado.
The Dodgers already have a longterm shortstop in Corey Seager, but he is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. It’s required Chris Taylor to move in from center field to play shortstop, with Kiké Hernandez also seeing time at the position.
With the Dodgers offense performing well in the month of June, it seemed as if the team would look to add pitching at the deadline instead of an impact bat. It appears that may not be the case though, as according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, they could be the favorites to trade for Machado:
This is the one player on the trade market who can singlehandedly change the playoff landscape, and several Major League Baseball executives and scouts told USA TODAY Sports that the Dodgers have emerged as the clear-front favorites to land Machado.
Machado would certainly help the Dodgers’ playoff chances this year, but with him being a free agent at the end of the season and Seager and Justin Turner locked in on the left side of the infield for the next couple of years, Machado may only be a rental for Los Angeles.
As recently as this past week, the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks were considered a favorite to trade for the three-time All-Star. So if the Dodgers do end up trading for Machado, it could be just to keep them away from their biggest competition in the National League West.
Machado is hitting .301/.371/.552 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI in 77 games this season, so the 25-year-old will be far and away the best bat that will be traded this summer.
Given that he would be just a rental and their desire to stay below the luxury tax threshold, the Dodgers front office will be hesitant to part with their top prospects in any deal. Top outfield prospect Alex Verdugo could potentially headline the Dodgers package if they do end up making a trade.
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