Manny Machado Gets Traded To Los Angeles

We've got twelve days until the July 31st trade deadline but one of the players who was in the American League is already on the move. 

Manny Machado who is a shortstop  has a new team, new teammates and a new league as he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers who are a member of the National League West. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers  won the Manny Machado sweepstakes, getting the prized All-Star shortstop from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade Wednesday night. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

The Orioles received five prospects: outfielder Yusniel Diaz, right-hander Dean Kremer, third baseman Rylan Bannon, righty Zach Pop and third baseman Breyvic Valera. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Obviously, it's a bittersweet day for our organization,'' Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said Wednesday night. "We watched Manny grow up in our franchise the past eight years. We all know what an exceptional talent he is, from the great plays that he made to his elite hitting. He's always going to be a part of our important part of our club's history.'' "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Machado, 26, is expected to be introduced by the Dodgers in Milwaukee on Friday before they open a series against the Brewers. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"We viewed Manny Machado as a big difference-maker,'' Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

The Dodgers are in a close race in the NL West, leading  Arizonaby a half-game going into the second half. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"Our first hope is we have a division-winning roster,'' Zaidi said. "Any time you have a chance to add an impact player in a tight division race, that's something you have to look at closely.'' "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Machado's contract expires at the end of the season, and the last-place Orioles decided against negotiating an expensive, multiyear extension because they have too many holes as the team moves into rebuilding mode. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"We tried to maintain a competitive club this year, and that's why we resisted the offers we had in the offseason to trade Manny,'' Duquette said. "But when it became obvious that it was time to look to the future, trading Manny is the first step in the plan to rebuild our ballclub.'' "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-an

Asked if the Dodgers would re-sign Machado, Zaidi demurred. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"Let's have him at least show up in a Dodger uniform before we start asking those questions,'' he said. "We hope he plays well and creates a good market for himself. We're not worried about what happens past 2018.'' "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

The deal hit a snag earlier Wednesday, according to multiple reports, with the Orioles having some issues regarding the physical of one of the prospects Los Angeles had agreed to send."according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

According to Fancred, the issue was not related to Diaz, the centerpiece of the deal. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Machado is off to the best start of his career offensively, tallying several career-high figures for the season's first half, including home runs (23), RBIs (64), OBP (.384) and OPS (.950). "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

In his first year as a full-time shortstop in the majors, Machado was voted as the starter for the American League in this year's All-Star Game. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

A Platinum Glove Award winner and three-time All-Star at third base, Machado moved back to his original position this season. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Zaidi said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has explained to Machado about how much the team values flexibility and versatility in playing different positions. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"Manny being flexible with that and being able to move between shortstop and third, we believe he can be an asset at both those positions,'' Zaidi said. "When JT [Justin Turner ] is down, Manny's ability and willingness to play third base on those occasions will be really important going forward. Everybody is sort of on the same page about that." "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

As for the prospects, Diaz, a 21-year-old Double-A outfielder, hit two home runs in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game, becoming just the second player in the game's history to homer twice. Alfonso Soriano is the only other player to hit two home runs in the Futures Game, doing so in 1999, the first year the game was played. On the season, Diaz is hitting .314 with a .905 OPS and has tallied 6 home runs, 30 RBIs and 36 runs scored. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"We liked the depth of the Dodger package, we liked the quality of the players in the package, and we liked Yusniel Diaz, a player we feel is a gifted hitter,'' Duquette said. "We felt he was clearly the best player offered to us during this recent market. He was the key to the trade. But the other players in the trade are also very talented.'' "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Kremer, 22, is 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 86 innings this season for Double-A Tulsa. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Bannon, a third baseman for the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, is hitting .296 with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Pop has spent time in Class A and Double-A this season, compiling a 1.04 ERA over 43⅓ innings while striking out 47 and allowing just a .168 opponents' batting average. According to Duquette, Pop's and Kremer's "excellent seasons are indicative of their bright futures." "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Valera, 26, is batting .284 with six home runs this season. Duquette said Valera will be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and the other four players will be sent to Double-A Bowie. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

"Valera and Bannon are versatile fielders with excellent on-base skills," Duquette said. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Machado was limited to 82 games in 2014, but he has played at least 156 games in each of the past three seasons. He has hit at least 30 home runs and 30 doubles in each of those three seasons, making him one of just three players -- and the only one in the AL -- to reach both of those marks every season since 2015. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

Regarded as the prize of this summer's trade market, the Orioles had discussed possible trade combinations for Machado with the Philadelphia Phillies , Brewers, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians . "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects

They had extensive conversations with the Phillies, whose front office is loaded with former Orioles officials who were involved in the drafting and developing of Machado in 2010 for Baltimore -- including president Andy MacPhail, general manager Matt Klentak and assistant GM Ned Rice. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24133382/baltimore-orioles-trade-manny-machado-los-angeles-dodgers-5-prospects