Sak Sports Blog

The Baltimore Orioles have a trade in place for shortstop Manny Machado, and while it was looking like the Philadelphia Phillies were close to sealing the deal , it appears a different team while acquire the slugger's services: the Los Angeles Dodgers. The news broke before the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, with Ken Rosenthal tweeting teams around the league have begun accepting Machado to the Dodgers. He leaves the door open for a surprise offer to swing Baltimore's mind, but that seems unlikely at this time. The 28-69 Orioles will likely fall even further from their .289 winning percentage without their star player. Don't be surprised if they look good for a couple weeks, ultimately this team will finish with the worst record in decades. On the other hand, the NL-West leading 54-43 Dodgers will get a much-needed push with the Arizona Diamondbacks breathing down their neck a mere half game behind at the break. The Dodgers will look to push the Chicago Cubs for the le...

A quick update has arrived for a vote that ends tomorrow: the final two spots in the MLB All-Star game.  The early return has 1B Jesus Aguilar of the Milwaukee Brewers and SS Jean Segura of the Seattle Mariners in the leads for the NL and AL. All-Star votes aren't supposed to be popularity contests: but it's hard to hide that fans can show some bias in voting. So it's well deserved that these relatively smaller market standout players are beating the likes of New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, Boston Red Sox Andrew Benintendi, and Trae Turner of the Washington Nationals. Here are the full voting update results, per MLB Communications: 1B Jesús Aguilar of the @Brewers and SS @Jeansegura02 of the @Mariners are your current leaders of the 2018 @CampingWorld All-Star #FinalVote . Voting ends on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Vote now at https://t.co/B3DJWKS3f0 pic.twitter.com/X9H9zgIXK3 — MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) July 10, 2018 Header phot...

It's becoming clear Manny Machado won't be a Baltimore Oriole in 2019, and maybe not even in August 2018 after the MLB Trade Deadline. Whether it's at the July deadline or in the free agency period, the Philadelphia Phillies have been linked to Machado for some time.  The Phillies could be aggressive at both the trade deadline, due to  their potential to compete in the NL East, and in the offseason, with the financial flexibility to add another key piece. Machado, who is playing his first full season as a shortstop in Baltimore, says he will not be returning to third base on his next team.  "I've been a shortstop all my life. I played third base for a couple years" he said. Adding Machado to the left side of the Phillies infield would be extremely valuable to the team, but it might block the progress of some prospects with potential. Maikel Franco is already a couple years along, typically manning third base. J.P Crawford, a natural shortstop, and C...

The Sweet Smell of Baseball…For Some by Sean Kingsepp Contributing Writer Despite much of the United States still worrying about whether snow will be coming in the next few weeks, pitchers and catchers have arrived for all 30 teams at their respective camps in Arizona or Florida. By this time, most teams should be set, give or take the last few roster spots, right? Arguably the biggest story of the offseason has been the “cold stove” of free agency, with many big name free agents either signing very late, or not at all. Although a few high profile free agents have signed in the past two weeks, most notably Todd Frazier, Eric Hosmer, and Yu Darvish. Darvish was considered by multiple experts as the cream of this years’ pitching crop. Darvish signed a 6-year, $126 million deal with the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, signing just before pitchers reported to camp. Hosmer finally got a deal after holding out for an 8-year contract and getting one from the San Diego Pad...

Coming off a career year in 2017, 28-year-old first baseman Eric Hosmer is being patient in the free agent market, waiting to select the contract that will affect the next decade of his life. Hosmer reportedly has two major options: stay with the Kansas City Royals or sign with the San Deigo Padres? Waiting out the market seemed to work for pitcher Yu Darvish, who signed a 6-year, $126 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. Hosmer already has two larger offers on the table: a 7-year, $140 million offer from the Padres and a 7-year, $147 million contract to stay with the Royals. Both offers would be in the Top 35-richest contracts ever, but Hosmer reportedly wants more, specifically more years.  According to USA Today, Hosmer prefers an eight or nine year deal from either team. In 2012, Prince Fielder signed a 9-year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Fellow Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera inked a 9-year, $248 million contract that started in 2016. Hosmer is holdi...