Dodgers trade for Manny Machado

The Los Angeles Dodgers took a major step today towards winning their first World Series in 30 years, as the team acquired four-time All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for prospects Rylan Bannon, Yusniel Díaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop, and Breyvic Valera.

Machado, 26, adds a potent bat to the Dodgers' lineup and also fills an immediate need at shortstop by replacing injured star Corey Seager.  Machado was the starting shortstop for the American League All-Star team after batting .315 with 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games this year for the Orioles.

As a shortstop, Machado may not be elite defensively according to the metrics, but he nevertheless does have some talent in that part of the game, having won two Gold Gloves at third base.  He also earned the 2013 AL Platinum Glove Award as the league’s top defender.

The Dodgers have dealt with a series of unanticipated injuries to their pitching staff and position players this year, and but for several surprise performances -- such as outfielder Matt Kemp's MVP-caliber season -- the Dodgers would not be contending for a division title.  This acquisition, at the cost of a few prospects, likely puts them in the driver's seat in a competitive NL West.

Machado, who is eligible for free agency after the season, could end up as a mere rental for the team, especially if Seager recovers as expected from his surgery.  But at the very least, in dealing for this talented young star, the Dodgers have added an infielder who can play at shortstop or the hot corner (should starter Justin Turner continue to battle injuries this year), and an outstanding hitter who can carry the lineup in the postseason.

The Dodgers outbid several teams seeking Machado's services, primarily because they included Diaz in their package.  Díaz, 21, participated in this year’s Future’s Game after hitting .314 with six homers and 30 RBI in 59 games with Double-A Tulsa.  According to other outlets, he was rated as the number four prospect in the Dodgers' farm system.

Bannon, 22, has slashed .296/.402/.559 with 17 doubles, six triples, 20 home runs and 61 RBI in 89 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season en route to the California League All-Star selection.

Kremer, 22, has gone 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA (29 ER/86.0 IP) in 17 combined starts this season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa.

Pop, 21, is 1-2 with seven saves and has posted a 1.04 ERA (5 ER/43.1 IP) in 30 combined games with Single-A Great Lakes and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this year.

Valera, 26, appeared in 20 games with the Dodgers this season batting .172 (5-for-29) with four runs and four RBI, while spending majority of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, slashing .284/.350/.433 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs and 25 RBI in 56 games.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services