Projecting Each Lineup Of The Teams That Could Potentially Add Manny Machado

The Manny Machado sweepstakes are expected to end sometime tomorrow or Thursday, after the All-Star Game but before regular action resumes. The Phillies and Dodgers figure to be the favorites at the moment, but other teams might ramp up their offers at the last minute to add an elite player to their ballclub. Machado would be a huge difference-maker for whichever team acquires him, which is why there are big offers being put in for a player that could be just a rental. This is how each lineup might look if Machado is added to it.

 

Philadelphia Phillies

1. 2B Cesar Hernandez

2. 1B Carlos Santana

3. SS Manny Machado

4. LF Rhys Hoskins

5. CF Odubel Herrera

6. RF Aaron Altherr/Nick Williams

7. 3B Scott Kingery

8. C Jorge Alfaro

9. P

 

Analysis: In this scenario, Maikel Franco would be traded to the Orioles; otherwise, he’d be in the six-spot at third base, with Scott Kingery moving to more of a utility role that can play all over the field. Machado could bat anywhere from 2-4 in the lineup, but I have Santana batting second because he’s gotten on base a lot despite a subpar average.

 

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. CF Chris Taylor

2. SS Manny Machado

3. 3B Justin Turner

4. 1B Cody Bellinger

5. RF Matt Kemp

6. 2B Max Muncy

7. C Yasmani Grandal

8. LF Enrique Hernandez

9. P

 

Analysis: The Dodgers switch up their starting lineup and defensive positioning a lot, so this could go a number of different ways. Inserting Machado into any lineup obviously lengthens it, but this lineup would be extremely deep from 1-8.

 

 

Milwaukee Brewers

1. CF Lorenzo Cain

2. RF Christian Yelich

3. SS Manny Machado

4. 1B Jesus Aguilar

5. 3B Travis Shaw

6. LF Ryan Braun

7. 2B Jonathan Villar

8. C Manny Pina

9. P

 

Analysis: The Brewers lineup is awfully deep, too, and this one doesn’t include Eric Thames in it. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Villar as six and seven hitters might be the best in baseball. The 1-2-3 of Cain, Yelich, and Machado has crazy potential.

 

 

New York Yankees

1. SS Didi Gregorius

2. RF Aaron Judge

3. 3B Manny Machado

4. DH Giancarlo Stanton

5. 2B Gleyber Torres

6. CF Aaron Hicks

7. C Gary Sanchez

8. 1B Greg Bird

9. CF Brett Gardner

 

Analysis: Brett Gardner might still just bat leadoff, with Didi Gregorius sliding in the five- or six-hole, but this lineup gives them a double leadoff. The power in the Yankees lineup already has the most power in the majors (161 home runs, 27 more than the second-place Red Sox), so it’s easy to imagine why they want to add Machado to it. The only question is whether Machado plays shortstop or third.

 

 

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. LF David Peralta

2. 1B Paul Goldschmidt

3. SS Manny Machado

4. CF A.J. Pollock

5. 3B Jake Lamb

6. RF Steven Souza Jr.

7. 2B Daniel Descalso

8. C Alex Avila

9. P

 

Analysis: With Paul Goldschmidt nearing the end of his own contract, the Diamondbacks might think it’s worth a shot adding Machado to the lineup. This would prevent the Dodgers from adding the All-Star and likely running away with the division, and it would give the D-Backs a major boost. Paul Goldschmidt and Machado back-to-back in the lineup would arguably be the best in the majors.