Fav. Team - Preferred Offseason Moves

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Also...Rule 5 Draft is cool and all...but do we really need it during the Winter Meetings? I don't want Rule 5 picks clogging up my Twitter Feed!!

[z - El Guapo - retired]

All we were doing was passing along the info we got off mlbtraderumors:

Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com makes the case that Baltimore shouldn’t exclude teams like the Yankees and Red Sox with whom they share a division. Rather, the Orioles ought to take whatever is the best package offered, as their goal should simply be to get better now and in the future. Connolly strongly insists that the Orioles not eliminate any trade partners.

El Guapo agrees with Connolly, though we would certainly see Orioles hesitating even if they should not. As the Godfather once said, "It's not personal. It's business."

The Baltimore big muckety mucks should do what's best for their franchise, not what looks good to PR people, the O's fans or Peter Angelos, personally... realizing, of course, that Angelos signs the checks and ultimately decides who stays and who goes -- and who goes where.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Dan Connolly is just looking for clicks He knows Machado isn't going in the division. It's fun to talk about, but it doesn't make sense for Baltimore to do that.

And the PR piece is just a small part of it, albeit important. Trading Machado to the Yankees, or Red Sox is NOT good for their franchise. There's a reason superstars are never traded in division. If the return never pans out, and Machado continues to be Machado (A Top 10 player) you have to wear that hat for not just the next decade. Forever.

I'm trying to think of anything remotely close to a star being traded in division? Babe Ruth? Guys will sign w/ rivals. But I'm blank...give me a few examples?

[z - Gaz]

The Yankees would have to offer to massively overpay, as would the Red Sox, just to even be in the conversation. If the Yankees want him they'll have to give up an absolute truckload of talent just hoping he signs an extension.

They'll likely just hope he doesn't sign an extension anywhere.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Dec 14, 2017 11:46:09 GMT -5 z - Gaz said:

The Yankees would have to offer to massively overpay, as would the Red Sox, just to even be in the conversation. If the Yankees want him they'll have to give up an absolute truckload of talent just hoping he signs an extension.

They'll likely just hope he doesn't sign an extension anywhere.

That's the other part of it...This is an NBA trade to me. Why over pay for a guy in a trade, when you know he would consider you in FA in a year.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

Just to answer your question; not saying this will get done:

Yankees pay the huge price in specs and negotiate the mega deal now (everything done within the 72-hour window) and they remain under the luxury tax penalty. That gives them a shot at the WS and Machado signed long-term without any bidding war.

Seems a reasonable plan. Kind of a preemptive move. Get the jump on every other club, plus positions itself for huge success over multiple years. Why not?

Baltimore, in turn, uses that knowledge as leverage to secure a much greater return than if they trade Machado elsewhere. And certainly improves its position over letting Machado walk after the season.

Baltimore just grabbed two Yankees specs in Rule V, which shows both the depth of the Yankees system and Baltimore need for SP prospects.

We know trading within divisions is rarely done. We also know if it helps both teams, there is no reason why it shouldn't be done.

[z - Gaz]

What are the Yankees willing to pay though?

Torres, Frazier, Adams, Sheffield?

I don't buy it.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Yankees already have a WS contender. They don't NEED Machado. Hell, they didn't need Stanton. This is vintage Steinbrenner Yankees. They are going for the throat which is fine, but they are already WS contenders. Machado doesn't drastically increase their chances. They are already there. If I were them, I'd focus on a SP.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Dump Ellsbury for nothing. Move Frazier to CF and platoon him w/ Hicks.

Don't trade Torres or the young SP's. They need them.

Go after a SP.

The Yankees will do the opposite. Ha.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

Clint Frazier is over-valued. Todd Frazier just doesn't cut it. Adding Machado would greatly enhance their chances to take the World Series. Machado would cement their infield as world-class.

They aren't dealing Gleyber Torres; he is Starlin Castro's replacement at 2B. Hicks is better than Frazier both in the field and at the plate. But they could and would trade from the army of SP prospects they have in their system to win a World Series.

You are correct, though, they need to shore up the back of their MLB rotation if they plan on advancing in the playoffs. Can't rely on guys like Sabathia (who had a fine 2017 for them) in the important games next year.

For Machado, we could easily see them move Sheffield, Acevedo, maybe Adams, too. Along with Clint Frazier -- no longer needed with Stanton now on boards and Estevan Florial on deck. Maybe even add Thairo Estrada (nice MI player) or Tyler Wade to the package.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

On mlbtraderumors this morning:


Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic takes a lengthy look at the market for Machado (subscription required and strongly recommended), reporting that trade offers from interested parties improved over the weekend and that a deal could happen this week. Specific details on each club’s offers, of course, aren’t fully known, though Rosenthal reports that the D-backs included young infielder Brandon Drury as part of their package. Rosenthal provides an overview of how seven Machado suitors could make a deal work, though he notes that there’s still a general doubt among his sources that Orioles owner Peter Angelos would green-light a deal sending Machado to the Yankees.

Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com paints a bit of a different picture regarding Angelos, writing that it’s possible Angelos could be swayed into approving a deal sending Machado the Bronx. Angelos, Connolly writes, solicits opinions from a wide array of trusted confidants and advisors — so many so that there are often conflicting opinions. A lack of consensus among that inner circle may have been what ultimately quashed this past July’s would-be Zach Britton trade to the Astros, per Connolly. However, Connolly hears that there’s a general sense within the organization that a deal will get done, and an organizational consensus could dissuade Angelos from interfering with any agreement, regardless of the trade partner in question. Within that same piece, Connolly also explores how the Machado situation could be slowing Baltimore’s other offseason endeavors.

The Cardinals have been oft-linked to Machado, though president of baseball operations John Mozeliak implied in an appearance on KMOX Sports radio in St. Louis this morning that he’d have a hard time making a deal for Machado (Twitter link via KMOX’s Tom Ackerman). Said Mozeliak: “If you’re trading away two to three prospects that have a combined 18 years of control… for one [year]? That doesn’t sit well with me.” That, of course, doesn’t preclude a deal from coming together — Mozeliak did trade four pieces for two years of Marcell Ozuna — but it does seem to suggest that the Cards would have a hard time deciding to outbid the field to secure the rights to Machado’s 2018 season.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

I don't think Guapo has ever been more excited for a potential transaction than he is for this one. Haha.

Baltimore effed themselves by doing the whole, "Not trading to Yankees. Not trading to someone we THINK would flip him to the Yankees later." I was under the assumption Kopech was on the table, but Brad mentioned that's not the case. That's CHW now trying to use leverage to say I know you're suitors will diminish if this is how you're wanting to handle it. Which...I don't blame Baltimore. Why not eat some of C. Davis contract and flip him for some low level prospects or purge elsewhere? Why not try to re-sign Manny? I know they're cheap but...

Anyways...1 year of Manny, unless you're trading him to a contender that thinks they can re-sign him so their offers are elevated, you're looking at minimal returns.

I do think, and not just saying this as a Cardinals fan but I think they have the best chance to land him, even if for 1 year. Acquiring Ozuna w/ out having to give up Flaherty, Weaver or Hudson was monumental in a case like this. Adding Machado, makes them the best team in the Central (Yes, better than the Cubs) and one of the 4 best teams in the NL. Sometimes, you have to take a chance. If Baltimore wants Flaherty + Hudson or another MiLB SP I would not all be surprised if St. Louis does it and just goes for it for 1 year. It wouldn't KILL their window. They still have a ton of young pieces to build around.

[Phillies GM (Ron)]

If STL could get Manny for Flaherty and Hudson for even just a one year rental as you state Anthony I'd do that trade every day of the week after they acquired Ozuna.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

The acquisition of Ozuna makes it much easier, I agree.

[z - Tim]

i think its hard to know where he’ll end up, but ive always sensed manny would like a chance to play SS, so if the cards traded for him they, unlike some of his other suitors with entrenched SSs, could dangle that carrot for an extension/resign. The cards are a good destination depth chart wise in that way.

[Phillies GM (Ron)]

Dec 18, 2017 14:13:07 GMT -5 z - Tim said:

i think its hard to know where he’ll end up, but ive always sensed manny would like a chance to play SS, so if the cards traded for him they, unlike some of his other suitors with entrenched SSs, could dangle that carrot for an extension/resign. The cards are a good destination depth chart wise in that way.

Good point.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

Not sure the fact that St Louis doesn't have a very good SS is a reason to favor them for this acquisition. Might be that winning a World Series would trump that -- though we hate introducing the word trump into any conversation. heh heh

Th Cards would be a good bet to pull off the deal basically because they could send the Orioles some badly needed starting pitching.  The Yankees would have a play because they can probably send more and better bats and also top notch SP prospects.

Hell, Machado may not go anywhere, but the drama will be interesting, whatever happens.

[z - Tim]

Thats right, I forgot the only good reason has to be the Yankees or else it must be a bad reason.

[z - Gaz]

So the Yankees have already won the 2018 World Series?

Go home everyone else, no need to bother playing any ball games next season.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

This from mlbtraderumrs this a.m.:

The Cardinals appear to be showing more interest in veteran Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson than in Manny Machado of the Orioles, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). Nightengale posits that the club may believe it’s better situated to pursue a long-term deal with Donaldson — who’s much older than Machado, though both will hit the open market at the same time — which would increase his appeal. Of course, it’s important to bear in mind there’s still no real indication that Toronto will move Donaldson and the St. Louis front office has suggested recently that it’s not all that keen on giving up significant assets for a rental.