Let the speculation continue and check out some of our coverage of the Machado sweepstakes with a Yankees twist, of course, below.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON – Nobody’s getting too maudlin over a grown man having to relocate because he makes too much money for his current employer, bound for more money. Those are the occasions for which brandy snifters, cigars and car services were made, generally. Manny Machado priced himself out of the Baltimore Orioles by being a good enough ballplayer over the required number of summers, and by being an Oriole when it all went bad. The Orioles, in turn, spent their future on a guy who’d one day hit .158 over better than half-a-season, the sorts of decisions that are hell on the bottom line. As it happened, Machado was a decent bet to spend his final hours as an Oriole standing with dozens of other men, none of whom would share his uniform. Instead, he’d hug an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, play catch pregame with an infielder for the Cleveland Indians, hit in front of an outfielder for the New York Yankees, wave to a crowd that sort of knows him, that won’t miss him, as he was from the team down the road. By game time Tuesday night, Machado appeared (but was not confirmed to be) headed to the Dodgers, the conclusion everyone arrived at nearly three months ago, when All-Star shortstop Corey Seager damaged his elbow. If negotiations continue on their course – no guarantee, because the Orioles in these matters are notoriously Oriole-ish – he’ll have returned to Baltimore, boxed the stuff of seven seasons, said his goodbyes and reported to his new club by, perhaps, Friday in Milwaukee. Manny Machado and Matt Kemp shared a moment at second base during Tuesday’s All-Star Game. (Getty Images) It was time for the Orioles to get on with the business of intentional down years, only slightly more palatable than unintentional down years, but this way they can sell it as a plan, a process, a direction, which sells more tickets than plain bad baseball. And saves more jobs, assuming any are left by then. And the Dodgers, who those three months ago rolled their eyes at the kind of overreaction required to sub in Machado for Seager, instead found themselves bidding with the likes of the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers for the All-Star shortstop, into the breeze of multiple reports they’d already struck a deal, which they insisted were premature. Story continues Those conversations seemed to be going at least reasonably well by late Tuesday night, when Machado had covered his innings at shortstop, popped out twice, boxed his swag and said his goodbyes. The next time he attends one of these he will be part of someone else’s franchise, someone else’s history, someone else’s plan. Maybe he knew he was gone. And to where. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe, because of all the Orioles-ness here, there truly was nothing to know, and the Dodgers and Phillies and Brewers and anyone frisky enough to also participate were still crawling all over each other. “Nothing, nothing,” he’d said before the game. “I haven’t heard anything. … For now I’m just trying to worry about today.” The Orioles open the second half in Toronto. He may or may not be there. But, given the Orioles pulled him from the middle of a game Sunday so as not to have an injury foul a potential trade, it would seem odd to go running him out there for more baseball, more risk. “I don’t expect anything, to be honest,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. If not, I’ll be there.” Before the bottom of the second inning, Machado and four temporary teammates – Luis Severino, Jose Ramirez, Jose Altuve and Jose Abreu – selfied on the pitcher’s mound. Severino held the camera phone. Then, when Matt Kemp, the Dodgers outfielder, arrived at second base shortly thereafter, Machado reached into his own pocket and came out with his own phone. He mugged with Kemp. Then he selfied with Nick Markakis. Manny Machado’s next stop could be Los Angeles. (Getty Images) By the seventh inning, Machado was in street clothes, though not just anyone’s street. He wore a powder blue, double-breasted suit, no shirt, slacks cut a couple inches over his ankles, the whitest sneakers you’ve ever seen and sunglasses at night. Around his neck he’d slid a gold chain thick as your forefinger. “Very Hollywood,” Matt Kemp had observed with a twinkle in his eye. Machado gathered with a group of at least a dozen friends and family, all of them in No. 13 jerseys, Machado across the back, including his brother-in-law, Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso. Many of them dutifully checked their phones, held them up for others to see. An Orioles official hugged Machado’s wife, on a scale of hugs somewhere between good-to-see-you and have-a-wonderful-life. “He’s actually one of my favorite players to watch,” Kemp said. “He’s a great player. If that’s something that happens … it’s definitely going to help us win more games.” But, then, you knew that. The rest will have to wait. More from Yahoo Sports: • Former Steelers first-round pick Gabe Rivera dies • Man calls cop after hard foul in pickup basketball • Terrell Owens might be making a comeback in the CFL • Cowboys DE Randy Gregory finally reinstated after 18-month suspension<doc-sep>BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 13: A fan holds up a sign in the seventh inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 13, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) It sounds like the Baltimore Orioles are nearing a decision in the seemingly never-ending Manny Machado trade saga. How soon will they decide, and could he come to the Milwaukee Brewers? ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that trade talks for Manny Machado were ‘at the 10-yard line.’ Then Machado was pulled from Sunday’s game and Hug Watch began. It turns out that removing Machado was just a precaution due to slick field conditions. Machado sounded like he’s ready to leave in his post game interview. Could the Orioles pull the trigger on a trade over the All-Star Break? And could Machado end up in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform? Are the Brewers still a possibility for Machado? According to the rumors? Early reports had the Milwaukee Brewers fading, but it sounds like they’re are still among the finalists for Machado. The Phillies, Dodgers, and Yankees are also in the mix. However, the Yankees offer isn’t quite as strong as reported. Who would the Brewers have to part with? Rumors had Corbin Burnes as one of the Orioles target, but the Brewers are unlikely to part with their top pitching prospect. It’s believed that the Brewers presented a package of Brett Phillips and Luis Ortiz. There haven’t been any other names to come out, but Brewers GM David Stearns was spotted in Biloxi to take a look at the Double-A roster up close. It’s possible that he used this trip to decide which prospects he can part with. How soon could the Orioles deal Machado? It sounds like the Orioles are very motivated to get Machado out of town. Supposedly, they want him out of town ASAP. Why they aren’t looking to force teams to wait in order to drive up the price is odd. Most teams that sell often wait until the deadline to create greater interest. Want your voice heard? Join the Reviewing The Brew team! Write for us! The Milwaukee Brewers have been linked to Machado since rumors starting heating up a few weeks ago. It’s clear that Stearns has tempted the Orioles enough to keep their name in the rumors. Now he has to see if he can seal the deal, or decide that the asking price is too high.<doc-sep>
Update: Well, maybe this isn’t happening so fast. Possible snag in Machado deal to Dodgers. Sources indicate that one or more of prospects coming to #Orioles have some issues in their physicals. Surprise surprise. May open door for other clubs. Stay tuned. — Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) July 18, 2018 Apparently there’s a holdup with the medical, because this is the Orioles, so there’s always a holdup with the medical. Hearing nothing today to indicate the Manny Machado trade is steaming toward the finish line. There's no reason to believe it won't happen by Friday. But when the #Orioles are involved, you never know what might bog things down near the end. That's their organizational M.O. — Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 18, 2018 In spite of all this, the trade still looks likely to happen by tomorrow. the medical holdup in the Machado trade isn't over top OF prospect Yusniel Diaz, the key prospect in the trade and one real name that's out there & confirmed. since it's apparently over a complementary piece (at least compared to Diaz), the chances to work it out are much better. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 18, 2018 Surely more to follow... The worst kept secret of the All-Star Game was that Manny Machado is heading to Los Angeles. While the deal isn’t completely official yet, it appears to be pretty much certain. In return, the Orioles will likely receive a package of prospects including OF Yusniel Diaz, RHP Dustin May, and MI Errol Robinson. There could be a few more details emerging as news breaks, which means there might be some additions or substitutions, but that’s how it looks at the moment. Stating the obvious, Machado is one of the best players in baseball. The 26-year-old is having his greatest offensive season to date. He’s setting career bests in BB-rate (10.9%), K-rate (12.3%), OBP (.387), SLG (.575), wOBA (.400), and wRC+ (156). is 3.8 fWAR through the first half of the season is the third best in MLB by a shortstop, trailing only Francisco Lindor and Andrelton Simmons. The Phillies, Brewers, Yankees, Braves, and probably about a dozen other teams have been linked to Machado over the past few weeks. These teams will have to turn their attention elsewhere for help down the stretch. Be prepared for major aftershocks in the trade market. As for the Dodgers, they bring over a young superstar shortstop who fits perfectly onto their roster. The reigning NL champions sit just a half game ahead of the Diamondbacks and two games ahead of the Rockies in the NL West. Their own brilliant cornerstone shortstop, Corey Seager, tore his UCL in May and will miss the rest of the season. In his absence, they’ve used super-utility man Chris Taylor at short. He’s now free to move around the diamond, as he did so well in 2017. The domino effect probably means a lot less playing time for second baseman Logan Forsythe and his 58 wRC+. The prospect package heading to the Orioles is headlined by Diaz. The 21-year-old Cuban outfielder has demolished the AA Texas league so far, slashing .314/.428/.477. He recently ranked #31 on the Baseball Prospectus Top 50 Midseason Prospects. The Dodgers selected May in round three of the 2016 draft out of high school. The 6’6 right-hander has worked to a 3.66 RAA and 5.93 K/BB in the A+ California League this season. Los Angeles also drafted Robinson in 2016, taking the him in the sixth round from Ole Miss. His .693 OPS in AA isn’t spectacular, but he’s shown power-speed potential with 7 HR and 16 SB, while splitting time between shortstop and second base. Obviously, there’s lots more to come as more details unfold. Stay tuned for more information, analysis, and reactions throughout the day. Daniel R. Epstein is an elementary special education teacher and president of the Somerset County Education Association. In addition to BtBS, he writes at www.OffTheBenchBaseball.com. Tweets @depstein1983