WASHINGTON -- Manny Machado to Milwaukee? Yeah, he's pondered the possibility.
The Brewers don't play in a market the size of Machado's other suitors, but thought of the Brewers swinging a trade with the Orioles ahead of the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline has at least crossed the All-Star shortstop's mind. He said so Monday before a report by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman that Baltimore was "very close" to a deal with an undisclosed team. On Tuesday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the pieces were in place for Machado to be traded to the Dodgers on Wednesday.
"[The Brewers] want to win," Machado said. "They're serious. They have a good group over there. They made a lot of pushes [last] offseason and they're going to continue to do whatever they can to get a ring."
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He wouldn't prefer to play out the final three months of his current contract with a large market team like the Phillies, Dodgers or Yankees? Those teams have reportedly made offers, too.
"I'm here to play baseball," Machado said. "I'm not here to sightsee."
That line got a laugh, but the constant grind of trade talk has worn on Machado, even as he puts together arguably his finest season. He will be the American League's starting shortstop in the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET on FOX) and reached the break with a .315/.387/.575 slash line and 24 home runs, putting him on a pace for career bests across the board.

The Brewers, meanwhile, are last in the Major Leagues with a .554 OPS at shortstop, and last in the National League in other offensive statistics, including weighted runs created plus and weighted on-base average.
That's key, because Machado reiterated Monday that he prefers to remain at shortstop. Other teams, including the Yankees, may prefer him at third base.
"I have no control of that, but everyone knows that I want to be a shortstop and I want to leave it on the field at shortstop," he said.
Brewers All-Stars acknowledged they have followed the Machado chatter.

At this time of year, it would be hard to miss.
"He would be a great addition to not only our team, but any team he goes to," said Christian Yelich. "He's one of the best players in the game. We'll see how it shakes out. Rumors are rumors. Obviously, I've seen we're rumored to be in that, but you never know what's true and what's not. I guess we'll all see what happens here in the next couple of weeks."