Phillies appear to be one of three finalists for Machado; talks at “10-yard line”

For the better part of the last five years, the Philadelphia Phillies have been connected to Baltimore Orioles superstar Manny Machado. It appears we could be nearing the first of two resolutions.

According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, a source that he’s spoken to thinks the Orioles are getting close to making a decision to move the 26-year-old:

Source indicated last Sunday his sense was that the Orioles were at the 35-yard-line and driving in the Machado trade conversations. Same source this Sunday: “10-yard-line.” PHI, Brewers, Dodgers waiting for the goal line call. As mentioned yesterday, Orioles have narrowed focus.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 15, 2018

Perhaps most noteworthy about this is that the New York Yankees – who Olney covered in a previous life, so he’s well connected there – aren’t one of the three teams “waiting for the goal line call.” George A. King III of The New York Post reported Friday that the Yankees are unwilling to move any of their top 10 prospects to acquire the impending free-agent. While the Yankees couldn’t guarantee Machado being able to play his desired position of shortstop with Didi Gregorius entrenched there, Machado would join a Yankees team that employs Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres. If he spent a few months in New York, he may win a World Series. It’s hard to envision him leaving New York in free-agency if he won a World Series there. And while the Yankees will have to take care of players like Judge in the relatively near future, they only have $86 million in financial commitments for 2019, so they could compete with the Phillies financially.

While it would be unfortunate for the Phillies chances of postseason success if either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers acquired Machado, it would seemingly hurt their chances of signing him this offseason much less than if the Yankees acquired him. The Brewers would stand no chance of retaining Machado this offseason. The Dodgers have enough financial might to re-sign Machado, though with Justin Turner at third base and Corey Seager set to return to shortstop in 2019, it appears less likely than a team like the Yankees doing so.

Machado, now a four-time All-Star, is in the midst of a career-year offensively, slashing .313/.384/.566 with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs.

The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.