MLB trade rumors: Diamondbacks ‘most persistent’ suitor for Orioles’ Manny Machado

The Diamondbacks are “the most persistent” club among the suitors interested in trying to acquire Orioles star Manny Machado, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. However, a deal is not imminent.

Along with the Dbacks, the White Sox, Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals and Phillies have also been pursuing Machado.

But, as Rosenthal points out, Arizona acquiring the 25-year-old third baseman would be ”fascinating” because he would team up with Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and Jake Lamb, who are in their prime years as position players, and could play at shortstop — a position he said he wants to play this season — for a year for a team that is ready to win now before he hits free agency at the end of 2018. The Dbacks could get him at a bargain rate in terms of money, as he is projected to make over $16 million, which Rosenthal says would be ”more logical” for them to pay than try to sign a big-time free agent like J.D. Martinez to a massive contract.

Arizona, along with every team in baseball, would love to have a player of Machado’s caliber. Outside of a 259/.310/.471 slash line last year, Machado has been one of the best in the game, hitting over 30 home runs in each of the last three seasons and driving in over 90 runs in each of the last two campaigns.

However, Rosenthal says the Diamondbacks need to do a couple of things in order to make this deal happen.

First, there has to be an agreement on players. Right now, the Dbacks have discussed dealing second baseman Brandon Drury and/or minor-league starting prospect Anthony Banda, but Rosenthal notes that they may not have enough in their farm system to make a deal Baltimore will like.

Second, they need Orioles owner Peter Angelos to approve the trade. After all, he has historically been reluctant to deal players no matter the state of the franchise.