Report: Orioles ownership will ‘probably’ sign off on Manny Machado trade

The Baltimore Orioles are going nowhere this year, and the quickest way they can stock up their farm system is by trading Manny Machado. In order for them to do that, ownership has to give upper management the green light.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos and his sons, John and Louis, have a history of nixing trades. Machado is by far the team’s best player, so there has been some talk that they will do the same with the star third baseman at the trade deadline. According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, that is not expected to happen.

The biggest hurdle in a potential Manny Machado deal – the ownership hurdle – may be close to being cleared, according to those in the know. If so, the chances for a deal for the superstar infielder would be near 100 percent. Orioles ownership, which now includes Peter Angelos’ sons John and Louis, according to one team source will “probably” sign off on a deal after years of blocking deals (i.e. Zach Britton last year). Meanwhile, the derby is said to be heating up.

At 21-52, the Orioles have the worst record in baseball. Machado is only 25, but he is set to become a free agent this summer and will compete with Bryce Harper for the richest contract in MLB history. It makes more sense for Baltimore to hit the reset button at this point than to commit an unprecedented amount of money to one player.

Teams will almost certainly want Machado to commit to signing a long-term deal before they give up top minor league talent for him, and there has been talk that he’s willing to do that for at least one potential trade partner.