The
worst thing the Red Sox could do would be to give up key pieces in a trade for
one-year of
Manny Machado—only to see him leave in free-agency in 2019 (probably to
The Bronx Embalmers). Earlier reports had Boston sending
Xander Bogaerts,
Eduardo Rodriguez and
Michael Chavis to Charm City in exchange for the 25-year-old three-time All-Star. But, clearly, that package was too much of a sacrifice—even for
Dealin' Dave Dombrowski. In this previous scenario, Machado would move to shortstop (where he really wants to play) and
Rafael Devers would be installed permanently at third base.
The new trade rumors have Devers included in the package to Baltimore—which would mean that Machado would have to stay at third, or Xander (A-Rod-like) would move to
The Hot Corner. In any event, a trade for Machado would have to come with a "negotiating window"
as a condition of the trade going down. Boston would need to have
a deal in place that could keep Machado in
Carmine Hose for 8-10 years. Otherwise, the whole conversation is a joke.
