Yes. Conversation over.
Over the weekend, amidst the massive headlines covering the Giancarlo Stanton trade to the Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles, in the tiny footnotes of News Heralds everywhere, officially announced that they were opening up trade talks for their elite third basemen, Manny Machado…and immediately my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
I had to check my eyes…
“ANOTHER CUP OF JOE SWEET DEE!”! I hollered as I scrambled through my iPad. “The Orioles are offering Jesus to the world, and I need to be positive this isn’t last night’s merlot coming back to play tricks on me”.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. For months the Baltimore Orioles had flirted with the idea of moving their most valuable piece, but when confronted with the question on whether the rumors were true, they would simply scoff it off in Bill Belichick fashion. The franchise was on a downturn. After failing on their all in gamble in 2013 to take control of the power loaded AL East, Baltimore’s front office was stuck in a situation where drastic moves had to be made. Machado’s contract ends at the end of the 2018 season, and with the money tree running thin, the O’s would find it hard to compete with other clubs to sign him to a long term deal in Free Agency. They had to act fast, and the organization had begun to dabble with the idea of flipping their asset now before they came up empty handed. The price would be steep mind you, but the starting bid would lie well within the reach of a club such as the Phillies.
According to most reports, the Orioles are aiming to land two young and reliable pitchers to help boost a staff whose 2017 stats belong on a sheet of toilet paper. This is something the Phillies have. Sixto Sanchez, Philadelphia’s top pitching prospect, is currently ranked among the Top 100 prospects in the minor leagues per MLB.com, and has shown the potential to be a top of the line starter in the big leagues with a fastball that can reach triple digits. With all indications showing that the Orioles are on the brink of a rebuild, a player like Sixto is right up their alley. Want a more seasoned player? Sure thing Mr. Duquette. The Phillies currently have a string of young arms on their current lineup in Vincent Valasquez and Jared Eickhoff that could tickle Baltimore’s fancy if combined with the right fixin’s. Reliable Closer, Hector “The Protector” Neris is not out of the question either as the Phillies recently signed relievers Pat Neshek (an All-Star for the Phil’s just last season before being traded to the Rockies) and Tommy Hunter this past week giving them an influx in the bullpen. According to MASNSports.com, Scott Kingery, the top ranked 2B in the minors and Freddy Galvis have been names floated to the Orioles as well showing the Fightin’ Phil’s are willing to provide an à la carte type bundle in order to get a deal done.
“But Matt (whine, whine), Machado’s contract ends after this season, what’s the use?”
O hog-wash! The time to act is now! I’ve never bought in to that old “1 cookie now, or two if you wait later” nonsense. Keep your two moldy stale cookies! I’ll take mine hot and ready now with a glass of milk and a bonafide Hall of Famer by my side. No one ever got the prom queen as their date by waiting. Seize the moment! Control your destiny. Acquiring Manny now puts you in control. Money is not an issue either way and with a trade you will have then gifted yourself a year of marketing time to sell Manny on the great city of Brotherly Love without other suiters in his ear.
(And if it makes you knuckleheads feel any better, Dan Lozano, Machado’s agent, has fiddled with the notion of having his client sign an extension in order to make a deal happen)
The time for boring baseball must end. You’ve been granted the chance at a magic idol Philadelphia. Don’t let her be the one that got away.