Dodgers Blue Heaven: Welcome to the Blue, Manny Machado!

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Welcome to the Blue, Manny Machado!

News is spreading fast that the deal is now done. Manny Machado is a Dodger.

In return the Dodgers had to give up some talent, but it appears the damage is not as bad as I initially feared. Going to Baltimore is outfielder Yusniel Diaz, third baseman Rylan Bannon, right-hander Dean Kremer, righty Zach Pop and second baseman Breyvic Valera. Diaz is the key prospect in this trade. He had walloped two home runs during the recent All-Star Futures Game this past weekend, and you should expect him to be very good going forward. Bannon and Kremer are ranked as the clubs #27th and #28th best prospects in the system, per MLB Pipeline. Pop could be a serviceable reliever in the future and you know Valera from his recent stints in LA.

Overall, I think the Dodger did very well here. After all, most of their top-end guys are still with us.

On another note, Manny Machado has an instagram account: @machados13.

As for how the team feels about this, check out the below twitter video just posted by Justin Turner's wife. He is enjoying the afternoon on a boat with Alex Wood, and is now celebrating.

Just when you thought you could get away from baseball for the ASB.. @redturn2 @Awood45 pic.twitter.com/Bi3VBY3Oho
— Kourtney Turner (@court_with_a_K) July 18, 2018

BTW, Machado wore #13 with the Orioles, but Max Muncy currently dons that number for the Dodgers. Here's what Kenley Jansen recently said about that, via a tweet from Eddie Matz.

Kenley Jansen says that if Manny Machado ends up on the #Dodgers, Max Muncy should surrender the number 13 that both he and Machado wear: "He deserves that number. It's his number."
— Eddie Matz (@ESPNeddiematz) July 18, 2018

Below is a collection of news stories about this trade:

Via ESPN; "Orioles trade Manny Machado to Dodgers for five prospects."
Via MLB.com; "SourcesSources: Machado-to-Dodgers deal complete."
Per David Schoenfield at ESPN; "Manny Machado blockbuster makes Dodgers the NL's team to beat."
Per Mark Townsend at Yahoo Sports; "Manny Machado headed to Dodgers in 5-for-1 trade."
Per Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest; "Blockbuster: Dodgers acquire Manny Machado from Orioles."
Per Jonathan Lloyd at NBC4; "Dodgers Make Swap With Orioles for All-Star Shortstop Manny Machado."

"I had a conversation with Manny. He's a great guy, man, and we would love to have him here," Dodgers All-Star pitcher Kenley Jansen said Tuesday night. "I think the sky's the limit. We can do damage. Let's see what's going to happen."

I eargerly await to see what happens, too.

In honor and celebration of this trade I made a whole bunch of fantasy custom cards. Check them here, throughout.

UPDATE: Here's a bit from the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired four-time All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Rylan Bannon, Yusniel Díaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop and Breyvic Valera.

Machado, 26, was the starting shortstop for the American League All-Star team after batting .315 with 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games this year for the Orioles. The Florida native ranked among the American League leaders in batting average (6th), hits (115, T-5th), home runs (6th), RBI (T-4th), on-base percentage (.387, 9th), slugging percentage (.575, 5th) and OPS (.963, 5th).

A two-time Gold Glove winner at third base, including taking home the 2013 AL Platinum Glove Award as the league’s top defender, Machado has a .283 career batting average with 162 home runs and 471 RBI in 860 games over his seven big league seasons with the Orioles. He has a .311 career batting average with runners in scoring position and has hit .333 with the bases loaded, including eight grand slams. Since his first full season in 2013, Machado ranks among the AL’s best in hits (927, 5th), extra-base hits (351, 6th), doubles (189, T-2nd), home runs (155, T-7th) and slugging percentage (.489, 14th).