Phillies trade rumors: Former GM lays out potential Manny Machado deal
Phillies trade rumors are growing as the trade deadline approaches
If one player is generating the most among Phillies trade rumors, it’s Baltimore Orioles infielder Manny Machado. Everyone knows the connection between Machado and the Phillies front office who drafted him in Baltimore, plus the need for an impact bat in the middle of the lineup.
Jim Bowden, the former general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, and now staff writer for The Athletic and co-host on Sirius XM, laid out six deals contenders in the National League should make before the trade deadline.
The final deal Bowden lays out is one that not only reunites Machado and members of the Phillies front office, but adds to the bullpen.
Here’s the blockbuster deal laid out by the former general manager involving Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Adding Machado and Britton might make the Phillies second-half favorites to win the National League East. It adds both a veteran reliever and a power bat for a group of players most fans would feel comfortable dealing.
Crawford’s ability as a defender is unmatched, but his bat doesn’t appear to be anything more than average at best. In 57 games, granted a small sample size, he’s hit .202 with 13 extra-base hits.
Medina is the organization’s second-best pitching prospect behind Sixto Sanchez, who rates as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. While also thought of highly among evaluators, Medina could be available with the depth of pitching in the organization.
The 21-year-old righty is 7-2 with a 3.99 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 58.2 innings for the Clearwater Threshers.
More from Phillies Rumors
- Phillies rumors: Club targets Seth Lugo for possible bullpen role
- Could Phillies sign 2nd former Mets starting pitcher in same offseason?
- Phillies rumor: Dansby Swanson could be club’s alternative to Trea Turner
- Rob Thomson apology hints possible Phillies blockbuster signing
- Phillies rumors: Club likely to land top shortstop on free-agent market
Seabold and Irvin are borderline top-30 prospects in the organization, though Irvin has pitched very well for Lehigh Valley this year. Whether he projects to be anything more than a middle of the rotation guy is to be seen, but a 2.54 ERA in Triple-A isn’t anything to sneeze at.
Seabold was drafted by Baltimore in 2014 out of high school, but after the righty opted to pitch for Cal State Fullerton the Phillies got him in the third round last year.
In 17 professional games as both a starter and reliever Seabold has a 3.42 ERA. He’s pitching with Medina in High-A Clearwater this year.
There are two things about this deal and what Bowden says that I do not agree with. One is that the organization wouldn’t want to trade Maikel Franco. Bowden himself said last week that himself and the organization are done with the former top prospect, so this contradiction is puzzling.
Second is the fact that the Phillies need to make this kind of a deal and sacrifice their third-best prospect for two players set to become free agents this winter. Is dealing four young players for two rentals who are not guarantees to re-sign worth it for an organization not poised to win a World Series this year?
Next: Power Ranking Players from the 2008 World Series
Philadelphia would have as much of a chance to sign Machado or Britton in free agency given the relationships already in place, while still keeping their prospects.