MLB.com’s Petriello: Machado, D-backs are perfect fit

At the moment, the Arizona Diamondbacks probably don’t feel pressured to pursue Baltimore Orioles infielder Manny Machado.

They still lead the NL West.

Baltimore doesn’t have much reason to move Machado in a market that looks, well, not great. Who wants to trade away more than a few second-tier prospects just to rent the soon-to-be free agent infielder?

But if there were ever a fit, MLB.com’s Mike Petriello believes that Arizona has the most reason to make a trade for Machado.

Petriello’s colleague, Jon Morosi, reported in mid-June that the D-backs were doing their due diligence by speaking to Baltimore about Machado’s availability. Since then, and until the end-of-July trade deadline hits, Arizona could be mulling whether or not to pull the trigger on an offer to get it done.

What the D-backs would need to part with in any trade isn’t clear, but what Petriello does know is Machado landing with them would be a boon — and a big one at that.

For a few reasons, “there’s not a more perfect fit of player and need,” he wrote.

For one, Arizona is quite obviously in win-now mode.

Arizona has the second-oldest lineup in the National League behind San Francisco, and the third-oldest pitching staff.

That’s not to say that if the D-backs don’t win this year that they can’t going forward; it’s to say that there are times to hug your prospects and there are times to be aggressive. For a first place D-backs team trying to fend off a Dodgers club that may for once be restrained in spending, now is its time.

So what do the D-backs do? Sure, they could use a reliever, but they have the majors’ lowest bullpen ERA. They could use a starter, but it’d be hard to improve upon a top three of Greinke, Corbin and a healthy Robbie Ray. The weakness is clear: They need a bat to improve an offense that’s 23rd and 24th in a pair of advanced metrics, and last in the NL in batting average.

Not only does Machado bring a .310 average with 21 home runs and 59 RBI so far this year to the table, but his versatility as a third baseman and shortstop could fill in holes for Arizona at both positions.

Petriello suggests that Machado, who slashes .275./327/.495 against lefties, can play at third base against southpaws, who confound the D-backs; the team’s third basemen rank 25th in slugging percentage MLB-wide when facing left-handed pitchers.

Machado could then slide to shortstop against right-handed pitchers, where Arizona also ranks 25th in slugging percentage (the D-backs’ shortstops rank third facing lefties). Machado slashes .325/.397/.592 against right-handed pitchers.

If there’s one obvious reason the Diamondbacks just might want to pull the trigger on a Machado deal, it’s this: Doing so would keep a team like the rival Dodgers from making a similar move and thus threatening Arizona’s hold on the division even more.

You know who else needs a shortstop? The Brewers, Dodgers, Phillies, maybe the Cardinals and Braves, perhaps even the Cubs, if they choose to make a big splash. Other than Machado, they’ll get to choose between Eduardo Escobar, who is having a good year, and Jose Iglesias and Adeiny Hechavarria, who are not.

You know who needs a third baseman? The Phillies, Cardinals and Braves, at the very least …

Those are the teams the D-backs need to beat to get to the postseason, and to beat if they’re in the postseason.

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