As the Dodgers continue to win, Manny Machado makes more sense

The Los Angeles Dodgers are slowly, but surely, climbing back into the NL West picture. As that happens, the idea of Manny Machado grows fonder.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are somehow only 4.5 games back of the first place Colorado Rockies in the National League West. With the Dodgers’ losing streak mirrored by overall divisional struggles, LA is still in a good position despite being 21-27.

There is still a ton of work to do, but the Dodgers have been improving in playing all-around games and getting great team victories. Certain bats are still struggling (Cody Bellinger) but the return of Justin Turner has at least sparked something.

Since his return, the Dodgers are 5-3; winning five out of the last six games.

And while the team is still getting bad luck, such as Rich Hill missing more time with yet another blister, it is at least looking promising. Clayton Kershaw is set to return to the rotation soon; he is throwing a bullpen session on Wednesday. The best-case scenario is that he returns shortly after. More likely, though, he will need to make a rehab start down in Rancho Cucamonga.

Either way, that puts Kershaw back in the starting rotation no later than the first week of June.

Thus, the idea of the Dodgers catching fire and making another summer push to separate themselves from the pack begins to take life. As that idea begins to take life, there is one trade that will sit in the back of most fan’s minds.

Trading for Baltimore Orioles shortstop, Manny Machado.

The one injury the Dodgers cannot heal in time for this season is Corey Seager and his Tommy John Surgery. Seager will be out until the 2019 season and leaves the Dodgers with an interesting rotation of players at shortstop.

Machado would be the ultimate one-year solution to that problem.

This trade would undoubtedly be a half a year rental, the chances of the Dodgers re-signing Machado in the offseason are slim. The team would likely spend that massive money elsewhere, like on Bryce Harper, before adding another infielder to the mix. Trying to bring Machado in long-term would force either Seager or Turner to second base for at least two seasons.

But still, this trade is too hard to pass on for a team that is good enough to win the World Series that needs one last piece to get it done.

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Los Angeles has a highly touted prospect to part ways with: Alex Verdugo. Verdugo is the Dodgers’ top hitting prospect but has found himself on the outside looking in with the big league outfield. Although he could fill Yasiel Puig’s shoes in right field, signing Harper would effectively accomplish that.

Verdugo, shortstop prospect Gavin Lux and a pitching prospect, such as Dennis Santana, would be more than enough to get this trade done.

In return, the Dodgers would be getting the perfect bat to slide into Seager’s usual two-spot in the lineup.

Machado is hitting .343 this season with 15 home runs and 43 RBIs. That kind of production, with Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and the red-hot Matt Kemp behind him, is scary.

As for the Orioles, the Dodgers are sensible trade suitors. LA is going to give up more than other teams may be willing and the Orioles can avoid trading him to another team in the American League.

If the Dodgers never ultimately reach a point of true contention in 2018, though, then this trade will never become a legitimate conversation.

Next: Dodgers prospects of the week

However, as the team creeps closer and closer towards that World Series that alluded them last season, the idea of trading for a .343 hitting shortstop is going to become too strong to overcome. This is MannyWood 2.0.

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