MLB Trades 2018: Examining Most Intriguing Deals Heading into Deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping recent MLB history repeats itself.

The Dodgers pulled off the biggest move of the 2018 trade season when they acquired superstar shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles one day after the All-Star Game.

The Dodgers gave up minor league prospects Rylan Bannon, Yusniel Diaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop and Breyvic Valera to get Machado.

A year ago, the Houston Astros acquired right-handed starter Justin Verlander prior to the trade deadline, and his arrival helped them capture the 2017 World Series. The Chicago Cubs traded for closer Aroldis Chapman a year earlier and were able to win the World Series over the Cleveland Indians in 2016.

Machado, who is scheduled to become a free agent at the conclusion of this season, told the Baltimore Sun's Jon Meoli before his trade that he wants to play shortstop throughout the rest of his career. He moved from third base to shortstop this year, but he has been forced to play third base for the Dodgers due to Justin Turner's groin injury. Turner is on the 10-day disabled list

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times that Machado was quite willing to return to third base to help the team while Turner is out with a groin injury.

Machado has a .312/.385/.564 slash line with 25 home runs and 67 RBI this season, and one of those home runs came in a Dodger uniform.

The Orioles have not stopped since trading Machado, either, sending closer Zach Britton to the New York Yankees for pitching prospects Dillon Tate, Cody Carroll and Josh Rogers on Wednesday. Tate and Carroll are right-handed pitchers, while Rogers is a southpaw.

The move seemed curious on the surface because the Yankees had perhaps the game's most powerful bullpen with Chapman, Dellin Betances, David Robertson and Chad Green. However, Chapman has struggled quite a bit in the last month. He has a 7.20 ERA in his last seven appearances, and knee issues may keep him from being at his best.

The addition of Britton could pay huge dividends for the Yankees if Chapman does not regain his best form.

Teams still have three more days to complete trades before Tuesday's trade deadline, and big names could continue to be on the move.

Gail Burton/Associated Press

The Orioles may continue their housecleaning by moving five-time All-Star outfielder Adam Jones. MLB Network's Jon Morosi tweeted that the Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies both have interest in Jones.

Cleveland is in excellent shape to win the AL Central title, but the Indians know the biggest battles will come in the postseason against potential opponents such as the Boston Red Sox, Astros and Yankees. Adding a big bat like Jones could pay huge dividends for the Indians, who lost the seventh game of the World Series in extra innings to the Cubs two years ago.

The Phillies have a narrow 2.5-game edge over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, but the battle could go down to the final days of the regular season. The presence of Jones in the lineup could give the Phillies the edge.

Jones has a .281/.307/.430 slash line with 11 home runs and 42 RBI going into Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson is not a superstar, but he has become a dependable pitcher for the Twins with a 3.42 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 129 innings. He shut down the hard-hitting Red Sox at Fenway Park Thursday night by allowing just one run in an eight-inning effort, and he looks like he could be an excellent add for any contending team.

Predictably, he is generating interest, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. However, if the Twins would need an impressive package in return to move Gibson since he is not eligible to become a free agent until 2020.