White Sox rumored to have shown trade interest in Baltimore’s young third baseman. Don’t expect the team to trade any top prospects for All-Star.
The Chicago White Sox aren’t expected to make any major moves during the current Winter Meetings this week. However, the team has been rumored to have shown trade interest in Manny Machado according to Buster Olney of ESPN.
Olney tweeted on Tuesday that many teams have expressed trade interest in the young third baseman. Machado, who will be entering the final year of team control in 2018, could be an attractive free agent option next offseason.
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For the Sox, trading for Machado now wouldn’t be ideal if they included any of their current top prospects in a potential trade. The Sox have done a great job in rebuilding and can’t stall their progress by depleting their farm system. Any team that trades for Machado now, would likely need to work out an extension with the 25-year-old to prevent him from being a free agent after the end of the 2018 season.
Sox general manager Rick Hahn spoke about the possibility of trading for Machado on Tuesday. According to Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago, Hahn would like for extended team control of Machado in a potential trade. Hahn isn’t looking to trade for a short-term stopgap in the team’s current rebuilding process.
"“It would have to be extended control. That’s an important part of this for us. We’re not looking at stopgaps, we’re not looking to jump up and contend for one wild card and then regress back. We’re trying to build something that’s going to last, and extended control is part of that.” Rick Hahn"
The Sox have one of the best farm systems in MLB, but trading any of their top prospects for a potential rental in Machado is foolish. If the Sox could trade for Machado without giving up a top prospect, and sign him to a long-term extension, that would bolster the team’s chances at contending sooner than later.
Next: Rick Hahn Talks Winter Meetings Strategy
Hahn and the Sox front office haven’t shown they’re in a rush to accelerate the team’s current rebuild. The Sox aren’t expected to contend in 2018, and they don’t need to give up their top prospects in any trades at the moment. Although Machado could be traded, expect the Sox to heavily target him next offseason if he’s a free agent.