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PHILADELPHIA – Short Stop Orioles Manny Machado will arrive at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon, take a lift to the level of service and walk past the Phillies Clubhouse towards the Visitor's Club. 19659002] He will probably be the closest he comes to find a locker next to Rhys Hoskins or Aaron Nola this season.
PHILADELPHIA – Short Stop Orioles Manny Machado will arrive at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon, take a lift to the service level and drive past the Phillies Clubhouse before heading to the Visitor's Club.
It will probably be the closest to find a bin next to Rhys Hoskins or Aaron Nola this season
• Catching up on the last trade
The Phillies have less than a month to take action before the July 31 deadline. Because they need help on the left side of their infield, because they have a deep farming system, and because they have money to spend , many in baseball believe that the Phillies are so lucky to acquire Machado before the end of the month. But sources told MLB.com that teams like D-backs are more likely to acquire Machado than the Phillies, who could be considered snipers.
An unnamed third baseman Machado There are reasons why it is hard to imagine that Philadelphia acquired Machado this month. The Phillies are playoff contenders, but they are not a gambler away from winning the World Series. A team about to unload the farm system for a talent like Machado, who can become a free agent after the season. The Phillies were there in 2009, when they acquired Cliff Lee. They were there in 10, when they had Roy Oswalt. They were there in '11, when they acquired Hunter Pence .
The 2018 Phillies are not here. It's not a big deal to win the National League pennant and beat the Yankees, Astros or Red Sox in the World Series.
That's why it's hard to imagine them negotiating a group of young talents. could include the right Sixto Sanchez (the best hope in the organization and No. 23 prospect in baseball) or Adonis Medina (prospect 75 in baseball) and JP Crawford or Scott Kingery plus one or two other top prospects, for two months of Machado. Of course, if the price drops to what the D-backs abandoned last year for JD Martinez (three hopes, but none in the Top 100 baseball and only two among the Top 30 from Arizona), the Phillies would be foolish not to run.
But it is unlikely. And no one in baseball believes that Machado will sign an extension before the trade deadline. Nobody believes that he will skip the free agency, either. The idea that Machado would fall so hard for Philadelphia that he skips the free agency is fun, but it is not realistic. Machado will enter the free agency and will sign a monster contract with the team that makes him the highest bid.
But the Phillies need updates. Their .735 OPS at the third base is 17th in the Majors. Their .630 OPS at the shortstop is 28th. It is clear that the Phillies are moving away from Maikel Franco to the third base, which means that modernization makes sense. Mike Moustakas (.784 OPS) of Kansas City could be the best and the most realistic. Texas Adrian Beltre (.813 OPS) would provide a jolt to the Phillies clubhouse, although he said he wants to stay in Texas. Tampa Bay Matt Duffy (.781 OPS) is an option under the radar. Josh Donaldson (.757 OPS) has a left calf injury. He could be sidelined at the end of the month.
The Phillies could use a closer one, but they probably already have one Seranthony Dominguez . Philadephia could pay a more reasonable price for a powerful or two bullpen at the end of the round – there should be plenty available – avoiding the high cost of acquiring someone like Zach Britton or Raisel Iglesias and just move Dominguez in the ninth inning, though Gabe Kapler director Phillies felt so inclined.
Video: Is Lefthand Cole Hamels The Model of Consistency?
Fans liked the idea of a meeting with Cole Hamels (and to a lesser extent, JA Happ ). Hamels returns to help complete the rebuilding of the Phillies? Register them for that. But because of Phils' need for bat, help in pens, and maybe even extra hitter, they could move forward with what they've got in the rotation, unless someone One does not slip or suffer an injury. The ERA 3.84 of the rotation ranks 11th in baseball. His OPS .693 opponents is ninth. Its success rate (35.4%) is the seventh, according to Statcast ™ Its 3.70 xFIP is sixth, according to FanGraphs.
But until Machado is traded, he will be bound to Philadelphia. Do not get me wrong, the Phillies love it. They asked. They keep an eye on him. But they are much more likely to throw themselves on it in November, when they will not need to abandon the farm to have it.
But at least this week, Machado will learn that his walk from the entrance of the players to the club house of Citizens Bank Park is shorter than the club of visitors. Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow him on Twitter Instagram and Facebook.
