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Phillies: Insider says it wouldn’t shock him if Phillies get Manny Machado on a long-term deal

By George Stockburger

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 23: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 23: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Phillies connection to Manny Machado continues to grow this season

Perhaps the biggest position player to be on the trade block during a season could land in the Phillies laps. Manny Machado’s connections to the Phillies have been cited repeatedly with the front office that drafted him in Baltimore largely in Philadelphia. Combine that personal connection to the Phillies need for a big bat and a left infielder, and you have more than smoke brewing between the Phillies and Orioles

Machado reportedly will not sign a long-term deal with whomever he ends up playing for by seasons end, but according to MLB Network Insider and writer for Fancred Jon Heyman, the Phillies are one of two teams that stand out in the race for Machado.

Here’s part of Heyman’s conversation on High Heat with Christopher Russo on MLB Network Monday afternoon.

"I think the Phillies and the Dodgers are the most logical and most likely at this point.I’m not sure. What you hear about Machado is that he’d like to play in a big market. Miami would be his ultimate choice, but that’s not going to happen.He has connections to the Philly people, and thats the team you hear the most often in a long term deal. All those people (Matt Klentak, Andy MacPhail, Joe Jordan, Scott Proefrock) were the ones in Baltimore… the whole front office has basically transferred to Philadelphia.Ultimately with a long-term deal, I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up with the Phillies"

That’s a lot to process, and some of that we already knew and laid out regarding the front office.

Phillies
BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 17, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

What fans weren’t sure about is whether they had a legitimate shot at re-signing Machado after potentially giving up a large package of young prospects. If what Heyman suggests is correct, it may ultimately be worth it for the Phillies, who are laden with cash, to do the deal for Machado.

What that deal looks like, we don’t know. Pitcher Sixto Sanchez, the organization’s number one overall prospect, is a name the organization likely won’t budge on, and one we highlighted as a no-go in any deal.

The Phillies have a lot of pitching at the top of their prospect rankings, but most of it is in the lower levels of the organization with Sanchez, Adonis Medina, and JoJo Romero.

Philadelphia’s first round picks from 2016 and ’17 Mickey Moniak and Adam Haseley are likely in the discussion, but would this front office want to move young outfielders they drafted?

Ultimately with a long-term deal, I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up with the Phillies

If a deal for Machado does happen, one of those two outfielders, considered to be top-five prospects by MLB Pipeline, is likely gone.

Both Moniak and Haseley are in Advanced-A Clearwater and playing decent at this point of the season.

Haseley is moving fast, which the organization expected after taking him out of Virginia last year. He’s hitting .295 with three home runs and 90 hits in 73 games, but his strikeouts are way up.

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Moniak was the number one overall pick in 2016 out of high school, and at 20-years-old he’s still got a ways to go.

After missing time with wisdom teeth surgery he’s hitting .244 in 62 games, but was swinging a much better bat before the surgery.

In May Moniak hit .277 but struck out 17 times while walking just once. He’s a player the organization viewed as a Christian Yelich clone coming out of California.

Next: Phillies: Power Ranking Players from 2008

Time will tell with Machado, whether the Phillies can swing a deal in July or if they wait and play their hand in December when he’s a free agent. Personally, I’d wait for December considering there’s no guarantee he re-signs and you don’t want to toss away young players for the chance to play a one-game wild card series in September.

If Machado can commit to signing the long-term deal likely worth at least $300 million, which Philadelphia can offer, then unload the truck.

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