Baltimore Orioles Rumors: Manny Machado to Dodgers Put on Hold
Multiple reports indicated Baltimore Orioles had a deal in place to trade All-Star Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not so fast with medical issues pending.
If you were watching the MLB All-Star game 2018, you’d conclude that Baltimore Orioles All-Star shortstop Manny Machado was heading to Los Angeles to play with the Dodgers in the second half of the 2018 season.
Numerous reports, like FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, reported Machado to the Dodgers was a done deal as they interviewed the Orioles perplexed shortstop during his fourth All-Star game. According to Rosenthal’s tweet on Tuesday night, Machado to the Dodgers is a done deal and the Orioles would receive a collection of Dodgers prospects including outfielder Yusniel Diaz.
Following the mid-summer classic and the flood of Orioles trade rumors, Machado is still a member of the Orioles roster as the second half of the season nears. By Wednesday afternoon, the Orioles-Dodgers trade involving Machado was all but official.
Then news suddenly emerged from Baseball Insider Steve Phillips, who reported a “snag” in the Machado deal to Dodgers occurred over speculation that doctors have a rejected a prospect in the deal due to medical reasons.
Possible snag in Machado deal to Dodgers. Sources indicate that one or more of prospects coming to #Orioles have some issues in their physicals. Surprise surprise. May open door for other clubs. Stay tuned.
— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) July 18, 2018
It is common knowledge that the #orioles have a higher standard in physicals than any other club. When issues like this arise they could call for further testing or swapping player included in deal if the doctors have rejected a player. Tough to find equal replacements though
— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) July 18, 2018
Does the latest news resume the Machado trade talks with other teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies or Milwaukee Brewers? Or even Machado staying on the Orioles roster for the remainder of the 2018 regular season?
Regardless if the Orioles-Dodgers deal falls through, the Orioles trade rumors regarding Machado will still occur as other teams propose final offers to the Orioles before the MLB trade deadline on July 31.
Next: 5 Potential Dodgers Prospects in a Machado Trade
Machado is in the midst of his best MLB season with 24 home runs, 65 RBIs, along with a .315/.387/.575 slash line. The Orioles shortstop is on pace to smash his career-high 37 home runs he hit during the 2016 season.
Wherever Machado ends up, whether it’s via trade or free agency in the offseason, he’s likely to be suiting up in a different uniform by 2019 due to his expected mega-deal he’ll receive.