Dodgers considered favorite for Machado?
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In the midst of a sensational stretch that has reaffirmed their stature as one of the top teams in the National League, the Dodgers could be set to add arguably the best player available on the trade market.
According to Bob Nightengale in an article for USA Today, Los Angeles is considered the favorite to land the Orioles' Manny Machado.
Per Nightengale, Baltimore has recently placed increased focus on scouting Los Angeles' Minor League system as the market for Machado begins to pick up steam. The Dodgers, who are 26-10 since May 17 after opening the season 16-26, ranked 10th on MLB Pipeline's preseason list of the top farm systems in baseball.
• Dodgers' Top 30 Prospects
The value of a Machado trade would be twofold for the Dodgers, improving their own roster while keeping him away from the D-backs, who are also reportedly interested in the Orioles slugger. Entering Wednesday, the Dodgers were 2 1/2 games behind the D-backs in the National League West.
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The Dodgers presumably would use Machado as a shortstop, with Justin Turner entrenched at third base and Corey Seager out for the season following Tommy John surgery.
Los Angeles has mostly used Chris Taylor at shortstop since Seager went down, but the club can move him elsewhere to accommodate Machado. Taylor opened 2018 as the Dodgers' starting center fielder, a position he filled during the 2017 postseason as the Dodgers made it to Game 7 of the World Series before losing to the Astros.