CHICAGO -- Manny Machado and Albert Almora Jr. played together in the backyard when they were kids, and the cousins dreamed about winning a World Series together.
As far as what effect Almora's presence on the Chicago Cubs might have on Machado's situation, well, the star of the show is guarding his cards quite closely at the moment.
Manny Watch 2018 arrived in Chicago on Monday, and the slick-fielding slugger handled the attention like a routine ground ball. The 25-year-old Machado is eligible for free agency after this season and could well be traded by Baltimore this summer, but he is determined to keep the focus on the field for as long as he can.