Chicago Cubs

Cubs Could Make Run at Trading for Manny Machado: Reports

Machado will be a free agent at season's end

The Chicago Cubs are still trying to find their form this season, but could they make a move that would net them one of the biggest names in all of baseball?

According to multiple reports from the Chicago Sun-Times and FanRag Sports, the Cubs have expressed interest in acquiring Baltimore Orioles infielder Manny Machado if the team ends up deciding to trade him.

Machado, who has hit 13 home runs and driven in 38 RBI so far this season, will be a free agent at the end of the season, meaning that Baltimore could look to trade him rather than lose him for nothing in the offseason.

The price tag for the Cubs would likely be high. According to the reports, shortstop Addison Russell has been dangled as a potential trade chip in those discussions, but the team would likely have to include more prospects in order to make any deal happen.

The Cubs may also have to deal with other teams if they decide to pursue Machado on the trade market. Even teams like the White Sox, who aren’t close to competing this season, could look at Machado as a strong piece worth acquiring as they rebuild, and their farm system is far deeper than that of the Cubs.  

If the Cubs wanted to keep Machado around after the season, the cost would likely be staggering. Some estimates have Machado making as much as $300 million on a new contract, and that would be difficult for the Cubs to fit under the league’s luxury tax threshold.

The MLB trade deadline doesn’t come until July 31, so the Cubs do have time before they would have to make any decision on who they want to add to their team. 

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