didn't you notice how my post on this thread reignited the conversation when the thread was dying. I think that shows how important i am to this board, lol.

Machado is just 19 but he's the third-rated prospect in minor league baseball because he's "that good," not because of what slick, for instance, refers to as "front office hype."

He was the third pick in the 2010 draft (behind Bryce Harper and Jameson Taillon) because he was considered "that good" by ML scouts and analysts.

Machado is going to the "Futures Game" because Baseball in general, not just the Orioles, have great expectations for him... the powers that be think he's "that good."

Everyone expects him to be an All-Star calibre shortstop within four years. If somebody is going to have an "All-Star calibre shortstop" who's under 25, I'd like that team to be the Orioles. Just one man's opinion, but I think trading Machado would be unbelievably stupid.

For the record I would trade any player and nobody is untouchable for the right package...

I would send Manny and 3 or 4 others to the Cub for Castro and Garza and then move Hardy to 3rd with Castro at SS ....of course I would need a window to extend Castro and Garza long term before finalizing the deal

Nobody knows what will happen in the future. But if Theo Epstein wanted Machado enough to trade Castro and Garza for him, I'd be leery. That would mean that he also thinks Machado can be come a great ML baseball player.

The "3 or 4 others" you are willing to throw in are, of course, unidentified. Whothehell are they?

You've already given away the best position player in the Oriole system for Castro and Garza. Who else are you throwing to the Cubs? Delmonico? Arrieta? Schoop? Strop? Bridwell?

Why don't you throw in the shot tower? Chicago has the best collection of buildings in America but Baltimore's shot tower is pretty cool. I'm sure they'd like it.

"At the risk of attracting hostile fire I'll repeat, it's a good decision to seriously consider offers for Machado. Fully understanding he's nearly off the table, every player in the world has a price. Manny is still a works in progress and needs another two seasons on the farm."

This. D. Bundy is untouchable. Machado is only 95% untouchable. Obviously you wouldn't trade him for a rental, it would have to be a young star we can control in return.

Since Machado is already "a young star we can control," how do we come out on top? I don't get it.

"Whothehell are they?"

One of Matusz/Arrietta/Britton/Tiiman
One of Hunter/Bergesen/Berkin
Flanherty
Andino

By trading for something of equal value the organization needs more, silly. I'm not saying it's the case, but maybe DD's blueprint for a WS victory centers on getting another ace to pair with D. Bundy for the next 5 years. Maybe DD decides we are going for it over the next 5 years and Machado won't be an all-star till he's 26. Maybe DD decides we need an ace or an elite slugger more than a star infielder because we have Hardy, Schoop, Delmonico & Flaherty.

Like I've said from the start of the trade discussions, trading Machado is highly unlikely. Absolutely eveything had to break a certain direction for that to happen. With Reimold out and the back of the rotation still shaky there seems to be no reason to pay high or even mid price for the 2012 Orioles playoff run.

But there are some remote scenarios that are not completely out of the stratosphere where it could make sense. Personally, I like my FO to never, ever say somebody is untouchable. I want a FO that listens to every offer and considers every chance to make themselves better.

That's a lot of good players. I think it would be a stupid trade but that's just an opinion.

I want Machado to play for the Orioles.

I'm glad you didn't deal Bundy.

There have been a ton of prospects given all of those accolades in the past... rated "that good", "can't miss", etc... that haven't panned out. In fact, that ends up being the norm more often than the exception.

All of that only further enforces to me that we should consider dealing him, right now, while his label is "can't miss". As opposed to a year from now when he's scuffled at AA ball and is deemed "bust" instead... And his value goes from the equivalent of a top end of the rotation starter, to a has-been past his prime/coming off an injury hoping to regain his form.

Given our current situation Machado is far from untouchable. Bundy is far more worthy of that label, and even he has his price. Everyone does. But I would want a Cliff Lee (4 years ago) type player for him. Anything less and I'd hang up the phone. Quite frankly, a deal nobody would be willing to make.

It's really quite simple, nobody wants to trade Machado because right around the time Hardy would be about done, more than likely, it would be time for Machado to come up. However if you are able to get Garza, Dempster, and Soriano for Machado, you take that trade, that's all there is to it. This team needs the pitching. The money for players comes from attendance and merchandise sales. Why do you think the Phils, Yanks, Red Sox, have all of this money to go after players. Also, if you win, you do not have players being reluctant to come to your team. That is a problem that we have had and one of the reason we don't have Mark Teixiera on our team. I'll personally take the wins now and the playoff appearance now rather than hoping somebody will be really good in 3 years.

Exactly. An obscene trade that puts us with the faves to win the WS for the next 2 years and the Cubs pick up the tab. You'd have to take a long look at that.

I'm happy enough with Duquette as the GM, then. He's made some nice moves to help the Orioles get into contention. He hasn't traded away the near-future.

Good teams keep their most-prized talent. I want Baltimore to be a good team.

The reason we don't have Mark Teixeira on our team is that he was a Yankee fan long before he was a free agent. When he became a free agent, his favorite team offered him an 8-year/$180 MM contract and he decided to take that $23 MM a year to play for the team he'd always hoped to play for.

Tex will be 36 when that deal's done with and the Yankees got a good first baseman who's hit .265/.360/.508 for them in 537 games. He hasn't won any MVPs and seems unlikely to do so.

I'd like to see what Machado can do... for us.

"trading Machado would be unbelievably stupid". If someone overvalued Machado and offered the right talent it would be unbelievably unbusinesslike to not seriously consider the deal.

I'd like to assume that most ML front offices are equally "businesslike." And yes, any eligible player could be traded.

What would the Nationals want for Harper?

What would they want for Strasburg?

What would the Angels want for Trout?

What would the Orioles want for Dylan Bundy?

As long as it's understood that that's the talent level we'd be trading, I'd say sure. Consider trading him.

If people on this forum are bandying his name about as trade bait because they think he's a "bust" or because they insist that he must be "over-hyped" because he's ours, I think they are "unbelievably stupid."

"If people on this forum are bandying his name about as trade bait because they think he's a "bust" or because they insist that he must be "over-hyped" because he's ours, I think they are "unbelievably stupid."

I agree

why would we want another mark reyonlds on this team is my argument? castro is overrated I have seen how castro plays and I say hes another reyonlds. Why would go after someone who unless he fixed his errors go after someone like that again? I disagree with half the board on trading Manny.

I agree If we want to trade someone like an andino because we have a logjam already lets move jj to third bring up manny see if he could handle the rigors of playing everyday in the majors. We all know that the reason why B-rob came back was to collect a paycheck. Am hearing castro`s name alot I have seen the cubs play because I get wgn and if I was to compare him to someone on our team I would compare him to Mark or a wilson betemit and the comparison is not that good. Why do you think the cubs want to clean house? The cubs are a dump right now they are at the bottom of the nl central. Things have gotten progressive worst over there in cub land since Theo took over.

"We all know that the reason why B-rob came back was to collect a paycheck. "

Brian Roberts was going to collect a paycheck whether he returned or not.

You are falling into the trap laid out for you by Calabrams by agreeing with him. He will now be embolden by your replying to his posts of idiocy.