The Manny Machado Trade To The Dodgers Is Finally Complete, Orioles Receive 5 Prospects For Manny
It’s never easy with Baltimore, never. It was announced by Bob Nightengale and Ken Rosenthal yesterday that Orioles’ shortstop, Manny Machado was being traded to the Phillies (handshake agreement) Dodgers during the All Star Game. People were buzzing about Manny taking the selfie with Matt Kemp at second, and Machado didn’t even stick around for the end of the game. He was seen leaving with a few other guys in the later innings. Of course you had the “nothing is official until the team announces it, but you saw pretty much every big MLB writer talking about the impact Manny will have on the NL West race for the next few months.
We weren’t really sure which prospects were coming back to Baltimore for Manny, there were a few different names thrown around. There were also reports of money being sent to LA from the Orioles, and even the Dodgers sending back a veteran to shed some cash.
Then we heard reports that the deal may have hit a snag and that the Orioles were reviewing some medicals from the prospects they were receiving back. SHOCKER. This has happened countless times with the Orioles. Same shit, different day. It seemed like that blew over and the Orioles were able to get the deal done, but man were there some nervous guys in Baltimore this afternoon.
It looks like we finally know the haul the Orioles are receiving for Manny, 5 prospects in all. The big guy is Yusniel Diaz, an outfielder who just played and homered twice in the Futures game this week. He is the big piece here, and an actual stud. I checked his twitter and he literally just started it, so we don’t have to worry about anything there from him. I told him I loved him in an Instagram comment and he liked it, so we’re off to a great start. About time the Orioles got a Cuban guy, and a good one at that. He instantly becomes the Orioles best prospect, which I’m not sure if that is saying much. Diaz only has 6 bombs this season in Double A, but his average is .314 and he has an OBP of .428. He’s the #85 overall prospect, and Orioles fans should be excited about him until he’s eligible for free agency and the club lets him walk.
They also got a righty pitcher, Dean Kremer, a third baseman, Rylan Bannon, another righty pitcher, Zach Pop, and a second baseman, Breyvic Valera. I think the Orioles did okay in this deal, 5-for-1 is something. If 2 or 3 of these other guys work out, outside of Diaz, this will be a pretty good haul. On the downside, I was just reading that some of the pitchers had some control issues, just perfect. Send them to Baltimore where they have been known to fix pitchers. I would have LOVED this trade if the O’s had a way to acquire Diaz and maybe Alex Verdugo, or Dustin May. Ideal dream scenario. Womp womp.
This whole thing has sucked. Machado should have retired an Oriole, but this is what happens when your ownership doesn’t give a shit about winning. Next to go will be guys like Adam Jones, Zach Britton, Brad Brach, maybe Danny Valencia and Mark Trumbo too. I’ll have a whole Manny blog going over his career in Baltimore coming soon.
