Los Angeles Dodgers: It is time to pursue Manny Machado

Whether or not to pursue Manny Machado is a decision the Los Angeles Dodgers have to make; a decision that should be a fairly easy one.

A month or so ago we wrote an article proclaiming that the more the Los Angeles Dodgers succeeded this year the more a Manny Machado trade becomes likely.

With success comes the need to add certain pieces to make another World Series run and actually win it all this season. With failure comes the need to trade away expiring contract to gear up for next season.

Luckily, the Dodgers have been succeeding the last month and find themselves right back in the playoff mix. Los Angeles finally lost its first series since that article was written to the Chicago Cubs and now sit two games behind the NL West-leading Diamondbacks.

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The Dodgers have self-created this hot streak with a quirky starting rotation that will only become dominant once it becomes healthy and situational bats that have left the yard at the right time.

However, much like last season, the offense can get plagued in these cold spells that leads to the team not hitting with runners in scoring position. One night they look unbeatable, the next they look like they will never capitalize. What the Dodgers need is that one extra elite bat that can keep the stations moving and keep the runs flowing.

That one bat obviously belongs to Manny Machado and would give the Dodgers a very similar offense to the one that usually includes Corey Seager.

Machado is hitting .304 this season with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs. He is hitting .382 with runners in scoring position with three home runs and 33 RBIs. Machado knows how to come up in big moments.

If the Dodgers are serious about making a World Series run this year then the team has to take the gamble on the one-year rental that is Machado. Machado would slide into the shortstop position, moving Chris Taylor either to center field or to second base, depending on who the team is facing.

The Los Angeles Dodgers batting order would then follow this basic foundation (although Dave Roberts is always changing it):

Chris Taylor, 2B
Manny Machado, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Matt Kemp, LF
Cody Bellinger, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Max Muncy, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Pitcher’s spot

Of course, it would change on a nightly basis. Some nights Logan Forsythe would get the call at second, Bellinger would get the call at first and the lineup will get juggled around accordingly. However, as far as a postseason lineup goes, this is a solid one.

The Dodgers also have the red-hot Joc Pederson they can use in good matchups instead of Muncy, Puig or Kemp. With Forsythe’s bat picking up and Austin Barnes consistently getting on base, the Dodgers would have arguably the best “first-11” position players in baseball.

Adding that extra bat in Machado is huge, especially if he keeps hitting as he is hitting in Baltimore. For Machado, the Dodgers would undoubtedly have to part ways with Alex Verdugo as well as a mid-tier pitching prospect, such as Dennis Santana or Dustin May.

Add in a replacement-level guy that the Orioles can fill into the 25-man roster, such as Kyle Farmer or Breyvic Valera and this deals seems perfect. If the offer from other teams is higher, the Dodgers can afford to match that offer.

With a deep farm that has the likes of Gavin Lux and Cristian Santana with no real path to the majors, LA can only sweeten the deal from there.

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And in return, the Los Angeles Dodgers would be getting one of, if not the best shortstops in the game right now. With their shortstop sitting on the sidelines with Tommy John, the Dodgers need all the help they can get.

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