It seems likely that the Baltimore Orioles are going to deal Manny Machado before the trade deadline this season, and the Chicago Cubs continue to be mentioned as one of the most likely suitors for the All-Star third baseman. If they are pursuing Machado, their president doesn’t want anyone to know it.
Cubs executive Theo Epstein was asked about the Machado trade rumors on Friday, and he insisted the team is not engaging in trade talks with any teams as of now.
Chicago #Cubs president Theo Epstein squashes Manny Machado rumors, telling Cubs reporters today there are having no active trade discussions
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 25, 2018
Of course, the trade deadline is still more than a month away. Plenty can change during that span, and Epstein would never openly admit that his team is pursuing a certain player.
The Cubs are one of a handful of teams that could afford to sign Machado to the massive contract he’s going to land this winter. The 25-year-old has picked a great time to have one of his best seasons, as he is hitting .335 with 15 home runs, 44 RBI and an OPS of 1.043. He’s on pace to set career highs across the board.
Chicago is not the only potential suitor for Machado, and Epstein would never tip his hand even if they were the front-runner to land him.
