The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the verge of acquiring Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.
Recent reports suggested that the Philadelphia Phillies were about to land Machado, but it looks like the defending National League champions will get their hands on the four-time All-Star instead.
Nightengale had previously reported that the Dodgers were the frontrunners for Machado's services, and that the Orioles were scouting L.A.'s loaded farm system. Baltimore promises to land a great package of young players as they prepare to deal away their franchise star - who's slated to hit the free agent market this winter.
The Dodgers lost shortstop Corey Seager for the season, when it was announced that he would require Tommy John surgery. With third baseman Justin Turner occupying third base, Machado would likely stick at shortstop if traded to the Dodgers, rather than go back to his original position.
Machado would surely just be a rental piece for the Dodgers, who won't be giving up on Seager or Turner any time soon. But there's no doubting that his world class defense and powerful bat will greatly improve the team's chances of winning a World Series championship.
After a sluggish 16-26 start, the Dodgers have caught fire and sit at 53-43, half a game up on the Arizona Diamondbacks for first in the NL West. Record aside, the Dodgers are by far the most talented team from top to bottom in the NL, and now they're on the verge of landing one of the game's elite superstars.
As for the Orioles, it's undoubtedly hard to part with a player that turned the franchise around, but Machado was never going to re-sign with them. They're the worst team in baseball this year, but the Orioles will get a big start on their rebuild, as the Dodgers prepare to send them some big-time prospects in return.