For the Red Sox to entertain the possibility of acquiring Manny Machado, it would, as usual, come down to money.
With Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Chris Sale, Craig Kimbrel, Drew Pomeranz, Rick Porcello, and Joe Kelly coming due after this season and next, could the Red Sox add a 10-year, $350 million contract to their payroll? Would giving up Rafael Devers for Machado be wise for the short term and the long term? And what guarantees would the Red Sox have in re-signing Machado as a free agent when many teams would be competing for him?
“I think any team that would be interested in [trading for] Manny would do so knowing he’s a rental,’’ said Orioles general manager Dan Duquette. “I don’t think any team would go into something like that without that reality.’’
Certainly a team like the Cubs would ask for a window to see if they could sign Machado long term, but why would Machado do that when he has the ability to choose between several teams bidding for him? We’re told by people familiar with Machado’s thinking that the Cubs would be high on his list because of his friendship with Albert Almora. There’s more to such a major decision than a friendship, but it doesn’t hurt.
If dealt at the trade deadline, Machado’s cost for the remainder of the season would be in the $6 million range. Devers would be under financial control for the next five years at relatively minimal money, as opposed to Machado’s expected $35 million-a-year contract. There’s an age difference, but not that big. Machado turns 26 on July 6. Devers turns 22 on Oct. 24.
Yes, you’re giving up five years of team control over Devers, but Machado is one of the game’s superstars, a tremendous third baseman, and an above-average shortstop. We think Devers will be an All-Star player in time, but you never know.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic floated the possibility of this Red Sox-Orioles deal, and there’s a feeling in the baseball community that the Orioles would be hard-pressed to get a better player than Devers, knowing that Machado is a rental. The Orioles would prefer an outstanding pitching prospect, which they can’t get from Boston (but could get from the Cardinals, Phillies, and Yankees, among others), but sometimes you take the best player available.
The Red Sox’ window is now, not two or three years from now. There really isn’t anyone behind Devers at third on the organizational depth chart. Michael Chavis, who is serving an 80-game suspension following a positive PED test, could play there, but he’s seen more as a future first baseman. The Red Sox could turn to the free agent market for Mike Moustakas or Josh Donaldson if Machado didn’t re-sign.
There’s also the bad blood theory with Machado as a result of the high slide incident with Dustin Pedroia last year that created a few problems, though those types of things usually blow over.
Machado is a good guy and a good teammate, so the notion that he would disrupt the Red Sox’ good chemistry this season is irrelevant. Devers is a kid whom teammates like and enjoy, but losing him for Machado wouldn’t be devastating to team chemistry. After all, you’d be adding one of the best in the game.
For the Orioles, Devers would be a fantastic return. Manager Buck Showalter told me that he would like to see the Orioles get one really good prospect rather than a watered-down package of two or three prospects. He’s got a point there.
Duquette doesn’t know how this will go — whether teams will start stepping up soon with offers so they can get Machado as soon as possible, or whether everyone waits until late July to assess whether the acquisition of Machado makes sense for their franchise.
Last offseason, teams thought the Orioles were asking too much for Machado. Executives I’ve talked to are torn on whether the Red Sox’ pursuit of Machado would be prudent.
“They’ve developed [Devers]. It’s obvious that even with the errors, he’s making some great plays at third base, which means this kid is going to be a major player on both sides of the ball,’’ one American League executive said. “They knew they’d have to go with growing pains with him, but if these are the growing pains we’re seeing, then he’s not far away from being a complete player. That would be a really tough call. But the Orioles would do it in a heartbeat. Any team in Baltimore’s situation would make that trade.’’
The Red Sox need to watch out for the Yankees. Would they sneak in and make a deal for Machado? They have far more trade chips than Boston, and the Sox are aware of that.
MOVING DAY SOON?
Britton on short time in Baltimore
Bullpens have been taking over baseball. As of this writing, 18 of 30 teams were carrying 13 pitchers on their 25-man rosters. Eight relievers is becoming the norm. Sparky Anderson used to carry just eight pitchers total on his Tigers teams in the 1980s.
Scouts are really looking at relievers they can add in the next six weeks, and front and center is Baltimore lefthander Zach Britton, who made his first appearance of the season last Tuesday against the Red Sox. Britton had a long rehab from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, but he says he’s 100 percent healthy and now just needs to sharpen his tools to get back to being a dominant closer.
The Orioles backed out of a deal with the Astros for Britton at last year’s trade deadline. The Astros still have interest and they still need a closer. Britton can be a free agent after the season, and the possibility of moving on from the team that drafted him in 2006 is bittersweet for the lefty.
“Last year I went through it a little bit, but my main focus has to be pitching well and to get settled in here,’’ he said. “The Orioles want me to pitch to my capability. We both want the same things. Getting back on the bike and put the injuries past me and competing is what I need to concentrate on and everything will take care of itself. That’s the best way to approach it regardless of what the Orioles do.’’
Britton has been one of the best closers in the game. From 2014-16, he averaged 40 saves per season and posted a 1.38 ERA. Then arm problems and the Achilles’ rupture affected his last two seasons. Yet, if he shows he’s healthy, he’s likely to be the No. 1 target of teams seeking bullpen help. He knows he might be playing for one team for a half-year and then another team after free agency.
“It could be tough,’’ Britton said. “We had Andrew Miller here and I kept in touch with him when he left. He always had a lot of good advice. It’s not always as scary as it may seem. You meet a lot of guys from around the game that you’ve met at All-Star Games and then you become their teammates. Wherever I end up is going to be a good situation.’’
Britton called the Orioles’ current situation “mind boggling.“
“If you told me in spring training where we’d be in the standings, I’d have laughed at you,’’ he said. “We were always fighting for a wild-card spot. It’s been pretty inconsistent.
“It’s been frustrating to watch as a guy who was injured. It’s hard to come and play baseball when people are constantly talking to you about being traded. Normally you want to help your team win and now you’re basically showcasing yourself. It can take a toll on some guys. It’s a weird atmosphere. They want to acquire young talent for the future, but for me and the other guys in my situation it’s been tough to deal [with]. Some of us have played together for so long.’’
Britton said manager Buck Showalter kept him in the loop on the trade front last season. He knows he’ll be gone if he shows he’s healthy and productive. He saw the scouts at his rehab outings and now he knows they’re in the stands.
“It’s been tough to watch this. We have so many good players. That’s what doesn’t make sense to any of us,’’ Britton said. “The atmosphere around a winning team is so much better. You feed off each other. It keeps you sharp. Sometimes when you lose, it’s hard. It’s just hard.’’
Updates on nine
1. Adam Jones, CF, Orioles — It’s not 100 percent certain that Jones would accept a trade. He’s a 10/5 player so he can veto any deal. He’s firmly entrenched in the Baltimore area, having recently bought Cal Ripken Jr.’s home. There’s even talk that Jones, a pending free agent, could be retained because he’s so beloved and is a team leader. One thing the Orioles could ask Jones to do is move to a corner outfield spot, as his days as a productive center fielder appear to be coming to an end. Jones visited the Red Sox’ Mookie Betts and Eduardo Rodriguez outside the visitors’ clubhouse after last Wednesday’s series finale to wish them well.
2. Anibal Sanchez, RHP, Braves — What a revival for Sanchez, who threw seven scoreless innings against the Padres on Thursday. Sanchez, 34, has perfected his splitter, and he’s 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in seven appearances (six starts). Sanchez was signed late in free agency by the Twins but was released in spring training. The Braves are only paying him $1 million on a one-year deal. It’s turning out to be a great get for GM Alex Anthopoulos.
3. Hanley Ramirez, 1B/DH, free agent — When Ramirez first became available, multiple teams called about him. But since then, crickets. What happened? “It’s a little surprising,’’ said one AL executive. “He can still hit. He’s a power righthanded bat, so it appears to be related to his past reputation. When teams get a consensus from their organization, the answer is often ‘no.’ At some point, though, I think someone will sign him.’’
4. Josh Harrison, 2B, Pirates — Harrison has been mentioned as a trade chip for a long time, but it finally could happen now that the Pirates are fading. Harrison makes $10 million this year, but there are team options for the next two years ($10.5 million and $11.5 million). Harrison has played only second base this season but he’s played a lot of third base and corner outfield spots in his career. Versatility has become huge in major league baseball and Harrison offers it.
5. Mike Trout, CF, Angels — Trout is on pace for 54 homers, 106 RBIs, 131 runs, and 31 steals. It’s amazing what he does year in and year out. Amazing player. Sorry, Mookie, Trout is the best player in baseball.
6. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, free agent — Gonzalez was released by the Mets this past week but is looking to catch on. Agent John Boggs has been making calls around the league but there hasn’t been much interest. Gonzalez is hitting .237 with six homers and 26 RBIs.
7. Joe Kelly, RHP, Red Sox — If Kelly keeps up the work he’s done this season he’s going to find a ripe free agency. Kelly has drawn the most rave reviews on the Sox pitching staff from executives and scouts around baseball. The Sox are going to have tough choices as both Kelly and Craig Kimbrel will become free agents. Kimbrel will likely demand somewhere near what Aroldis Chapman makes (about $20 million per year), while Kelly will also get a big payday but at a more cost-efficient choice as a closer.
8. Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants — Sandoval has a chance to be a Giants hero again. With Evan Longoria out with a broken finger, Sandoval will get a lot of time at third base. He drove in the winning run in the 16th inning in Thursday’s game. Talk about nine lives.
9. Kirby Yates, RHP, Padres – Yates, 31, is a reliever who is very much in demand, and you can see why when you consider this number provided by Inside Edge: Yates has allowed a slugging percentage of .105 (six total bases in 57 at-bats) against righthanded batters, while the league average slugging percentage against righties is .366. The Padres are his fifth team. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 26th round in 2005 out of Kauai High School in Lihue, Hawaii, but did not sign. He attended Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz., and was signed by the Rays in 2009.
Extra innings
From the Bill Chuck files — “In Joey Gallo’s first 68 games with the Rangers this season, he whiffed 99 times. In 1935, Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx led the AL with 99 strikeouts in 147 games and 649 plate appearances.’’ . . . Also, “The Dodgers are up to 18 pitchers with at least one win this season. The record is held by the 2016 Atlanta Braves, who had 28 pitchers win at least once, and that was for a team that won only 68 games.’’ . . . Happy birthday, Matt Barnes (28), David Pauley (35), and Donnie Sadler (43).
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
