Red Sox should not trade for Manny Machado

With no assurance that Machado would be here for the long-term, Boston would need to limit how much they are willing to give up for him. With few blue-chip prospects remaining in their farm system, a package for Machado will most likely need to begin with one of the young, cost-controlled players on the major league roster.

If Baltimore’s demand starts with Rafael Devers then that’s a deal-breaker. Machado may take over third base from Devers but that hardly makes the rookie expendable. Boston can stick Devers at DH with a potential move to first base down the line in order to make room for both. Giving up a young player of his caliber for what could amount to only one-year of an established star would be foolish.

Machado has expressed interest in moving back to his natural shortstop position. Would Xander Bogaerts satisfy the O’s as the centerpiece of a trade? It might, although the Red Sox should be hesitant to agree to that swap. Machado is clearly the more talented player but Bogaerts has an extra year of control before hitting free agency and won’t be nearly as expensive to re-sign. He’s shown the ability to contend for a batting title and the power to top 20 home runs. He’s yet to put those skills together in the same season but we know that’s his ceiling.

If we knew Machado was staying then the Red Sox wouldn’t think twice about giving up Bogaerts for him. Unfortunately, we don’t know that. Keeping Bogaerts for two more years followed by an extension at a more reasonable rate would be better than only one year of Machado.