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The Yankees and Orioles shared a double schedule in Baltimore on Monday, but the games were almost a secondary tournament – after all, we know what will happen in the standings: a team is tied for the playoffs and a team the winery. No, the real story is the sudden and curious entry of the Yankees into the Manny Machado Sweepstakes.
The Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Brewers were the favorites to rent Machado's services. 26 years old and run in the free agency is having the best season of his career. The Orioles would prefer to send the shortstop to the Netherlands, if only to prevent it coming back to Baltimore and remind fans that the team could not fit on its superstar. But GM Dan Duquette said since last winter that he would consider trading Machado against a divisional rival if it was the best deal. The owner of the majority, Peter Angelos, would probably not approve of an exchange with the Yankees or the Red Sox, but at the time, Angelos, 89, has health problems and is not in the same position. is more active in the operation of the team.
All of this seemed to be a moot point, as the Yankees and the Red Sox had not shown much interest in the Machado acquisition, as they both d & # 39; excellent alignments for a while and both are very well placed with young talents sides of their fields. (And the two may simply try to sign Machado in free will, if they want, without giving up anything of their farming systems.)
This state of affairs seems to have changed quickly on Monday. Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees are showing "increased interest" for Machado, and if they want it, their farming system allows them to outbid all the other teams. Roch Kubatko of MASN said that they reached out to the Orioles . Baltimore Sun's Eduardo A. Encina said the same thing, although no formal offer was made. Jon Heyman says New York might be interested in a package that would land in Machado and closer to Zach Britton
More than anything else, this flood of reports could represent the Orioles wanting other teams to know the Yankees . are involved. Because at first glance, the Yankees do not really need Machado.
Didi Gregorius is an anchor at the shortstop and still has a year of officiating on the left. Gleyber Torres is the favorite for the rookie of the year and installed at the second base, although the stop – court remains his natural position. Rookie Miguel Andújar was a revelation and grabbed the work of 3B. Brandon Drury is only 25 years old and the Yankees consider him very well.
The most likely scenario – and it's pure speculation at this stage – implies that the Yankees are hearing with Machado on a long-term extension and securing. his willingness to return to 3B, and to negotiate Andújar, either in Baltimore in a Machado deal, or separately this winter. It would be a luxury-driven, luxury market that has the Yankees of a system of stacked farms and deep pockets, but that would certainly be an improvement. (The promise of Andújar is exciting, but Manny Machado is Manny Machado and, not for nothing, his right bat would look really good against the left-heavy rotation of the Reds Sox.)
He still would not address the biggest hole of the Yankees right now, that of starting to pitch. But the early market is relatively thin, and the Machado acquisition would improve the team, both now and for years to come, and they have the pieces to make it happen. So maybe it's not so crazy after all …
Machado, for one, does not want to talk about the Yankees' interest.
"If you want to talk to me about something, then tell me about the game," he said. "Tell me something useful, no rumors, I'm not here to talk about rumors."
Sorry, buddy, can not do.
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