With the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline fast approaching, the Orioles may be looking to add some fireworks to any potential blockbuster deal involving shortstop Manny Machado. Baltimore could package reliever Zach Britton along with Machado in order to boost the prospect package it would receive in a trade, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Machado and Britton have been hot topics in recent trade rumors, and any deal involving both players would likely require several top prospects in return. Machado has been linked to the Dodgers, Brewers, D-backs, Phillies, Braves, Indians and Cubs, and there are plenty of contending clubs that could be interested in Britton, who has posted a 1.75 ERA with an 8.8 K/9 rate and 136 saves in 257 innings since the beginning of 2014.
Machado, who was selected to his fourth All-Star team on Sunday, is batting .313/.382/.560 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and seven steals in 88 games entering Monday. The shortstop leads his position in OPS (.943) and RBIs while ranking second behind the Indians' Francisco Lindor in home runs.
Britton -- a two-time All-Star -- emerged as an elite closer after becoming a full-time reliever in '14, but the southpaw has struggled this year after missing the first two and a half months of the season while recovering from right Achilles surgery. He posted a 7.04 ERA in his first eight outings after being activated from the disabled list June 11. He's righted the ship of late, however, not allowing a run in his past four appearances after locking the save in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Yankees on Monday.
Baltimore has plenty of incentive to trade Machado and Britton, given both will be free agents after this season.