8:49pm: Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com tweets that the Sox did indeed check in on Machado, but there’s “nothing substantial” to those talks at this time. Boston, however, “seems to have definite interest” in Britton.
8:39pm: The field of teams reported to be showing interest in Orioles shortstop Manny Machado is growing, as both Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun and Rich Dubroff of PressboxOnline.com (Twiter link) report that the Red Sox have recently reached out to the Orioles regarding Machado. Schmuck notes that Boston’s interest is seemingly a response to recent reports that the Yankees have again displayed some renewed interest.
The Red Sox don’t represent a perfect fit for Machado by any means, with Xander Bogaerts thriving at shortstop (.277/.351/.512) and Rafael Devers slotted in at third base. Devers, though, has struggled to the tune of a .290 OBP, and while the Sox certainly wouldn’t part with him for a Machado rental, Boston could in theory add Machado and send Devers to Triple-A Pawtucket for further development. Devers, after all, is still just 21 years of age and only played nine games in Triple-A before ascending to the Majors last year.
To this point, it’s not clear whether Boston’s interest constitutes anything more than due diligence, and there’s not yet anything to suggest that they’re embarking upon an aggressive pursuit of Machado. The Dodgers, Brewers and, to a lesser extent, the Diamondbacks were said to be the most most aggressive parties on the Machado front as recently as this afternoon, with the Cubs and Cardinals both now said to be largely out of the mix.
As ever, it’s worth bearing in mind that most contending clubs will at least gauge the price tag on most of the top trade pieces available. Fancred’s Jon Heyman recently reported that the Red Sox have been scouting Baltimore’s Zach Britton in recent weeks anyhow, and it’s fairly logical to expect that if they were inquiring with the Orioles on Britton, they’d at the very least check in on the Machado price tag. Players of Machado’s caliber are rarely available on the summer trade market, after all, and acquiring him represents something of a rare opportunity for any contender — particularly one in a tightly contested division race such as the current AL East.
Boston is a particularly difficult fit for the Machado, though, given the money he’s owed through season’s end and the luxury tax penalization the Sox would incur if payroll hiked much further north. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported at the time of the Steve Pearce trade that the money the Blue Jays sent to the Red Sox in that deal helped keep Boston’s luxury tax ledger just south of $237MM.
That’s an important figure, because despite the fact that much of the focus with regard to the luxury tax is placed on the initial $197MM barrier, there are increasingly steep penalties for exceeding that threshold by more than $40MM. Namely, the Sox would be taxed at a hefty 42.5 percent clip for any amount over that $237MM mark and, more significantly, would have their top pick in next June’s amateur draft knocked back by 10 spots. Machado is currently owed about $7.05MM through season’s end, and the Red Sox’ luxury tax payroll (per Cot’s Contracts) sat at $235.325MM before even accounting for the $1.5MM they took on in the Pearce trade. That figure is an estimate, of course, it nonetheless demonstrates that the Sox are only narrowly south of that threshold.
It’s certainly possible that the Sox have genuine interest in adding Machado to the mix, recognizing that they’re in a close battle for the division and that every win will prove crucial to avoiding a one-game Wild Card playoff. However, given Boston’s luxury tax situation, an already-crowded left side of the infield and a thin farm system, it’s difficult to see them emerging as a top suitor for Machado.
yanks02026
Red Sox have no good prospects.
jdgoat
Groome, Chavis and Houck would be close
yanks02026
You mean Chavis who needs PEDs
jdgoat
He doesnt have no value because of that. The O’s or any other team would love to take on his potential as long as Boston realized his value is diminished.
gomerhodge71
Your user name says it all
Robert hutchins
His username says nothing. I’m a Sox fan, we have no prospects to truly deal and it’s an area we need to build back up. We have no business talking about Machado and I’d be willing to bet the sox did not check on him.
Willy
Like I said…that simply isn’t true. They have Chavis, Mata, Houck among others who have value to team’s. They just don’t have the upper echelon players outside of Groome.
andrewgauldin
You have to remember, Machado is a rental. I think it’s safe to say the orioles are going to acquire more than what the tigers did for JD Martinez, but I am 100% positive that if the Red Sox were to offer Chavez, Groome, and Houck, the orioles would definitely take it. But I don’t think it’s going to take that much based on the JD Martinez trade. With that, the BoSox do have the prospects to get Martinez, it’s just a matter of how depleted they will be if they are to acquire Manny and/or Britton.
dimitrios in la
I see Manny and Britton as a fit in LA with the Dodgers—if they’ll make the right offer.
Willy
You mean they have the pieces to acquire Machado, not Martinez.
Robert hutchins
That’s an awful package. BAL rejected Verdugo & Alvarez from LAD. The sox have no chance & should stay confident in Devers. Chavis is PED, Groome is dealing with Tommy John and Houck is destined for the bullpen. Just because they’re ranked 1-3 in the system, does not mean squat. I’m a sox fan btw.
chesteraarthur
Source?
Willy
That simply isn’t true.
Supilikethat
They have had enough with Devers making so many errors
slapnuts
Have they?
Rwm102600
No, they have not.
johnrealtime
I feel like people forget that Devers is 21
rmullig2
That explains why they keep asking him for ID at the bar.
acarneglia
Sounds like this could potentially be another Todd Frazier situation between Boston and New York
geg42
Boston has had issues at 3rd base for a while. Lowest WAR at the position among AL contenders. Still paying Pablo Sandoval not to play.
jjburke2018
They have good prospects and could send down devers to triple a and trade for a couple of prospects
gleybertorres25
Trade for a couple prospects? they’d have to trade from the Major league roster for that.
gofish 2
Blake Swihart HAS to be the centerpiece……right?
Michael Chaney
Don’t forget about Trey Ball too
Thomar
Ball is a bust. I was his biggest believer, but he doesn’t have it
Aircool
Clearly you weren’t his biggest believer then.
Michael Chaney
I know, I was just being sarcastic…I’ve seen too many people on here claiming that he can still be a big part of a deal but he’s been a bust from basically the start
SKbreesy
The Yankees would just offer Greg Bird and that would swing the deal back towards New York’s favor. I bet Baltimore would even throw in Givens if Bird was centerpiecing the deal.
osfan9987
See you make this joke but I’m fairly certain I’ve see Yankees fans suggest that, they are convinced everybody wants the scrap pile crowd
thecoffinnail
You have not seen Yankee fans suggesting Bird as a centerpiece.. Aren’t you the guy that is still stomping his feet claiming the Yankees sign all of the free agents after the Orioles just spent close to $100 million on 3 of them, while the Yankees only signed Walker for $4m?
stan lee the manly
To be fair, trading for Stanton was pretty much the exact same as signing him as a free agent what with the no-trade clause and all
Bocephus
Yes, I actually have.
jolink65
Those are the unrealistic fans who don’t understand how trades work. Most realistic Yankees fans, myself included, know that no one is taking anything off the scrap heap from them. Trading for a major upgrade is going to carry a hefty price tag. No one wants Bird or Gray at this point.
Bocephus
Thank You
tigerfan1968
Orioles already have Greg Bird AKA Chris Davis who is still owed over 50 million.
For the Yankees or anyone it is just better for them to have Machado then a competing AL team.
micg
Now if they want to trade Bird for Davis the O’s will throw in Manny!
Thomar
Their top prospect Groome is out for the year, Chavis is currently 0 for 8 with four strikeouts in AA. Swihart is hitting .175. Beeks, their top AAA starter has made two uninspiring appearances in Boston. Rourke has struggled all year, #3 prospect. They don’t have anything to offer other than major league players.
Matt Galvin
Brian Johnson is already in majors and Sam Travis been blocked by Moreland/Martinez.
Bocephus
Did you really just bring Travis into this. lol
Fever Pitch Guy
What are you talking about? Chavis had two doubles and a homerun in yesterday’s game for lowell. Sure it wasn’t in AA, but still noteworthy.
badco44
Correction …Chavez’s had four hits the night before last!
koolga
Swihart is up to .200 after last night. Not great, but if he has continued playing time, he may raise it up to .250 (again, not great, but acceptable for a catcher).
A little confidence goes a long ways and it might just be the boost he needs.
He looked good behind the plate last night.
Willy
That just isn’t true but go ahead and keep beating that drum.
Houston We Have A Solution
Or just call Texas about an Adrian beltre reunion.
Send Texas Cj Chatham- Dalbec- Lakin.
Dutch Vander Linde
Nope he’s not going to the Red Sox, he hates Boston
SKbreesy
It’s a trade he doesn’t have a choice.
Willy
He does have a choice, he has 10-5 rights but the poster before you is wrong, he doesn’t hate Boston.
Willy
He doesn’t hate Boston, stop making stuff up.
Thomar
Dalbec is off the table for a 39 year old rental. He’s actually good and promising. Pedriora’s knee is toast and he’s getting old. Dalbec is his successor in waiting. ( for now anyway)
Bruin1012
Dalbec plays third have never heard the Red Sox even thinking he can play second he is kind of slow for third it sounds like so doubt they would even try him at second.
Psychguy
Is there a more unlikable organization than RS?
SKbreesy
Overall the Yankees are probably the most hated organization.
Pedro Cerrano's Voodoo
Just the yanks
edreed20
No the Red Sox take it
repboy1
Why?
firstbleed
Cubs/Yanks are.
rmullig2
The Yankees offered nothing for Machado and the Red Sox have topped that by offering absolutely nothing.
Bubba 5
Agreed Greg Bird is laughable. Only a Yankee fan would think he has any value.
jolink65
Nope, we don’t either. Until/if he gets himself right he has no trade value unless another team wants to gamble on his upside. I don’t think the Yankees want to sell low on him though, so he’ll be here for the foreseeable future.
koolga
Looking at Bird’s stats, I’m not sure what the big deal is either. I would expect that a NL team would be making better offers and the Orioles would rather deal him to the National League anyways.
22222pete
Castillo (playing well) and cash (Jones leaves as a FA), ptbnl (swihart after Vazquez is back) , Brian Johnson, Devers , Groome (TJS but still a prospect) for Manny and Britton
Blow way past 237 but DD says he is ok with that
Willy
You can’t wad up a pile of Garbage and think another team is going to take it.
Connorsoxfan
You are the reason people hate Red Sox fans
Connorsoxfan
Granted the inclusion of Devers makes that somewhat feasible, but you can’t seriously expect the orioles to take Castillo…
jjburke2018
Wow that is mean what team you ever like everyone hates that they teams fans.
mpguy
The funniest line I’ve heard about Machado came from NBC Sports Bay Area. They were joking (I think) that the Golden State Warriors are going to sign Machado once he becomes a free agent.
rvcbmicha
O’s need to solidify their rotation down the stretch. Not trade away their talent… we’re only 31.5 games out of the wildcard and we haven’t even hit the break! #wegotthis
Bocephus
Then the worm has definitely turned.
athingortwo
O’s need for Davis to give up the excess he signed for over the $115M and sign Machado themselves, keep Britton, trade Brach, trade Jones. Period.
badco44
Yep got got to think that the real interest is about Britton and Brock
Sheev Palpatine
I’ll trade $50m for machado and Davis
tigerfan1968
Red Sox should go for Manny and big time. Here are the reasons :
1. They do NOT need starting or relief pitching. Yankees do, Seattle does.
2. Bradley, Leon, and second base are three weak bats. Moreland is just average.
3. Devers can hit and defense improving but he is only 21.
4. Bogarts to second base is not ridiculous. With the shift on 2/3 of the time so what.
5. Signing Manny long term is possible. Bradley and Pedroia salaries gone. Stagger Manny so salary increases in year two etc.
Michael Birks
Where does Pedroia salary go? He has full 10/5 no trade?
Willy
Sorry but this is one of the dumbest comments on the day. The Sox don’t need relief pitching but the Yankees do? Hahahaha, apparently you don’t watch either team with a comment like that. Bogaerts won’t be asked to change positions because the last time they asked him (when they re-signed Drew) he sulked and complained the whole time while not producing. How on Earth do you think they’d be able to get rid of Pedroia’s salary? He’s too stubborn to retire.
Judge Judy
Erod for Machado.
Bruin1012
Lol no
GarryHarris
BoSox has been hoarding away Rusney Castillo for just this opportunity.
Wally-the-green-monster
I haven’t heard Yankee fans this scared in some time. Feeling the pressure to make an upgrade?
jolink65
Not sure where you’re looking, but where have you seen Yankees fans “scared” about this? First, it sounds like Boston is only doing their due diligence in gauging the price for Baltimore’s assets, and second, as a Yankees fan I hope the Red Sox trade for Machado. It would destroy their system even more and Machado will hit free agency anyway and go to the highest bidder, which could potentially be the Yankees, and trading Machado would mean there would be no draft pick loss for signing him. It may mean trouble for the Yankees this season, but the team is built for the long run and not just for this season.
SKbreesy
A lot can happen in 3 years.
Boston has great everyday young players right now on the everyday roster.
Top prospects fade(in 2015 Swihart and Owens were #18 and #19 prospects in MLB.com top 100) and prospects you never expect to produce at the MLB level become serviceable.
Add that to the fact that young(great) players aren’t signing team friendly extensions anymore, and free agents are hitting the market at 25-27 years of age. You can still sign great young players during free agency.
brood550
that’d be fun to watch. Move Devers to 1b and slot Machado at 3b. Works great..
jeffk-2
Machado, Britton and Brach for Benitendi, Houck, and a lower level prospect.
brood550
Benintendi shouldn’t even be an option for this deal. JBJ could go because Mookie or Benintendi can slot into center and he’s struggling but still has appeal, You don’t give up young controllable talent that is producing at the majors for a rental. The Red Sox are in their window. Doing that would shorten it significantly.
chevyheston
PR move just so fanbase won’t say, “why didn’t you go after Machado?”
seaver41
tough call on where Dumbrowski goes from here – he flushed the farm for two players and neither lived up to expectations in the 2017 postseason. Can’t let Dumbrowksi keep flushing all the kids away blindly.