The Phillies are one of the main teams pursuing Manny Machado this year at the trade deadline. They had interest in him during the offseason last year and are expected to make a heavy push for him next offseason.
Machado entered the league as a third baseman back in 2012 as a 19-year-old as J.J. Hardy was Baltimore’s starting shortstop. With Hardy gone, this year he insisted he moved back to shortstop instead of third. The Orioles obviously caved because Machado is their best player.
Machado knows full and well he will probably end up somewhere besides Baltimore by next season, but he remains adamant that no matter where he winds up, he will still play shortstop: [quote via Joe Meoli of The Baltimore Sun]
“I’m playing short,” Machado said.