Manny Machado Trade Rumors: Brewers, Yankees, Red Sox In The Mix

BALTIMORE, MD — With the baseball trade deadline approaching, the rumor mill has been on fire, and Baltimore Orioles All Star Manny Machado is one of the hottest players as he approaches free agency. Multiple teams have reportedly expressed interest in the 26-year-old infielder, from the Milwaukee Brewers to the often-hated New York Yankees.

The four-time All-Star is in the final year of his contract with the Orioles, with his 2018 salary being $16 million. This year, Machado has belted 23 home runs, is batting .314 with a .385 on-base percentage, and is already valued at 2.4 wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference.com.

The New York Yankees are "in on Manny Machado," Major League Baseball analyst Jim Bowden told CBS Sports.

Manny Machado liked a photo of himself in a Yankees uniform on Instagram. Cue the hysteria. https://t.co/qgWaZ35y9B pic.twitter.com/VGRJnNBu5B
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) July 12, 2018

The question is, what could the Yankees offer the Orioles in exchange for their star?

"If you're the Orioles, you don't care which team you trade him to; you need the best package back," Bowden said.

According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the O's would be willing to trade Machado if left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield comes to Baltimore, a move which the Yankees may not be willing to make for a rental.

.@SimplyAJ10 knew it, Wayne Kirby knew it...Goodbye, home run!

Manny mashing for his second homer of the night. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/rcPwwi4z4r
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 11, 2018

The Yankees have competition from the Dodgers, Brewers and possibly the Phillies, Bowden said.

"The Brewers and the Dodgers, it's going to be one of those teams," according to the hosts of MLB.com's Morning Lineup, which speculated Tuesday that the Yankees were driving up the price but not really interested in Machado.

The Milwaukee Brewers, at the top of the National League Central division, are looking at trying to pry Machado from the Orioles in what boils down to a high-cost, high-profile rental to shore up the team's offense.

To get Machado, the Orioles are asking for a raft of major league-ready talent from the Brewers. A likely scenario that is currently playing out as of July 11 is Baltimore asking for top pitching prospect Corbin Burnes in addition to others.

Other teams in the mix for Machado are the Red Sox, which sent a scout to Tuesday's game at Camden Yards, and the Phillies.

Report: #RedSox in contact with #Orioles about possible Manny Machado trade https://t.co/mlf32jeDnK
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 11, 2018

According to the Boston Globe, the trade with the Red Sox would "make little sense," since Machado is set on playing shortstop, and Boston needs a third baseman as well as help in the bullpen, just like Philadelphia.

Machado has been connected to the Phillies for years, as the front office knew him in Baltimore and Philly is one of the few places with the bankroll to afford his inevitably gargantuan forthcoming contract. The move, however, is one that Pennsylvania Patch says would be "foolhardy" for the team, which needs to focus on strengthening the bullpen.

Where will Machado land?

The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, so the picture will become clearer in the weeks ahead.

• Milwaukee Brewers Trade Rumor: Team Wants Manny Machado
• Trading For Manny Machado Makes Little Sense For Phillies

— By Patch editors Scott Anderson, Justin Heinze and Elizabeth Janney

Image Credit: Jonathan Huff/CSM/REX/Shutterstock.