Baltimore Orioles MLB Trade Rumors: Manny Machado Likely to Stay Put This Offseason

By Noriel See, Christian Post Contributor Friday, December 22, 2017

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado may no longer be available for trade.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Orioles are now saying that "unless someone drastically changes their offer" Machado isn't going anywhere this offseason.

The report comes a day after Nightengale said the Orioles were considering taking him off the trade market because they weren't happy with the offers they have received for the three-time All-Star.

"Baltimore has fielded trade inquiries for Machado from the Cardinals, Cubs, White Sox, Yankees, Giants, Phillies, Diamondbacks and others. But, with a trade and free-agent market flush with very good third basemen (Mike Moustakas, Todd Frazier, Evan Longoria and perhaps Josh Donaldson), the offers for Machado haven't come close to even tempting to this point," Nightengale said in his report.

Apparently, the Orioles want a return similar to what the Atlanta Braves got when they traded All-Star right fielder Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 2014 season.

"Atlanta received top young pitcher Shelby Miller in that trade for Heyward before sending Miller to Arizona a year later in an even more-remembered trade for Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte," Nightengale wrote.

Well, it's clear that the Orioles aren't in a hurry to trade Machado, but observers believe they will move him eventually since he's going to become a free agent after the 2018 season.

Machado posted a 0.259/0.310/0.471 slash line in 156 games last season. He also had 33 home runs, 95 runs batted in and 33 doubles in 690 plate appearances. He has won the Gold Glove award for the third base position twice (2013, 2015) during his tenure with the Orioles.

Meanwhile, trade talks involving Orioles closer Zach Britton will likely come to a screeching halt after he ruptured his Achilles tendon while working out on Tuesday. He's expected to be on the shelf for at least six months, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.