Orioles DFA Chris Tillman, Renato Núñez in tonight's lineup

Orioles DFA Chris Tillman, Renato Núñez in tonight's lineup
With Chris Tillman's injury rehab assignment completed and the Orioles needing a spot on their 40-man roster, they chose to designate the veteran right-hander for assignment today while selecting the contract of infielder Renato Núñez from Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman returned to the organization after testing free agency, agreeing to a $3 million contract in spring training that included a possible $7 million in bonuses based on innings. However, he lasted only seven starts before going on...
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Núñez set to join the Orioles

Núñez set to join the Orioles
The first move following Manny Machado's departure from the Orioles will be selecting Renato Núñez's contract from Triple-A Norfolk as part of a restructuring of the left side of the infield. Núñez, 24, is batting .289/.361/.443 in 565 games with the Tides, including 14 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 25 RBIs. He's a career .265/.321/.466 hitter in 757 minor league games and belted 32 home runs in 2017 with Triple-A Nashville in the Athletics' system. The Rangers claimed...
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Orioles move into second half without Machado

Orioles move into second half without Machado
The reality that Manny Machado no longer played for the Orioles hit them hardest yesterday as they boarded their charter flight to Toronto and gathered for a workout. It will strike them again today as they convene inside the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre to begin a three-game series against the Blue Jays. When the lineup card lists somebody else at shortstop. Imagine how fitting the moment if Jonathan Schoop homers and his best friend isn't in front of the dugout for the choreographed...
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Scouts offer their opinions on Díaz

Scouts offer their opinions on Díaz
The Orioles don't necessarily have a screaming need for an outfielder as they set about the task of starting their rebuild process, but they listened when the Dodgers offered Yusniel Díaz as part of the five-player package for shortstop Manny Machado. Alex Verdugo was off the table, as were a few of the top young pitchers in the Dodgers system, which threatened to curtail trade talks. But Díaz became the centerpiece and Machado headed west. (I thought it was important to land at least...
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Duquette on today's trade and the plan moving forward

Duquette on today's trade and the plan moving forward
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette spent about 19 minutes tonight on a conference call with the local media and provided details on how the Orioles will proceed through the stages of their rebuilding process, with emphasis placed on a truer commitment to international scouting and analytics. They also will increase their front office staff and deepen the farm system in an attempt to gain ground on their competitors. The actual plan has been laid out for everyone. Trading shortstop...
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Machado's tenure with Orioles comes to an end

Machado's tenure with Orioles comes to an end
The inevitable finally became a reality. Resigned to losing shortstop Manny Machado through free agency after the season, the Orioles ended their eight-year relationship by trading him to the Los Angeles Dodgers today for a five-player package headlined by Double-A outfielder Yusniel Díaz, according to sources. The Orioles also will receive third baseman Rylan Bannon, second baseman Breyvic Valera, and right-handers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop. No money is involved in the transactions. And no...
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Machado trade to L.A. in final stages without medical concerns

Machado trade to L.A. in final stages without medical concerns
The Orioles are in the final stages of completing a trade that will send shortstop Manny Machado to the Dodgers in exchange for five players, according to an industry source. They're in the home stretch. The Dodgers have agreed on the players and there are only some "final points to review," per the source. Reports surfaced earlier today, including a tweet from MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips, that the deal hit a snag due to concerns over the medicals on at least one of the players....
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Waiting for the Machado trade to become official

Waiting for the Machado trade to become official
The interleague portion of the Orioles schedule after the break doesn't include the Dodgers. If you want to see Manny Machado, you'll need to head out West. Or make the drive to Philadelphia for the three-game series that begins on Monday. There's no "Hug Watch" today because Machado isn't with his Orioles teammates, but everyone is braced for the trade with the Dodgers to be finalized. I was told late last night that the deal wasn't "done," but it's obviously close enough that there...
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Machado plays five innings in All-Star Game

Machado plays five innings in All-Star Game
WASHINGTON - The introduction was more meaningful tonight than in past All-Star Games. Manny Machado stood on the top step of the dugout and waited to hear his name. Batting seventh and playing shortstop ... from the Baltimore Orioles ... It won't happen again. And not just because he hits higher in the order. Machado will be traded later this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday, and won't be with the Orioles when they resume their season Friday night in Toronto. He's expected to go to the...
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Machado unaware of pending trade

Machado unaware of pending trade
WASHINGTON - Manny Machado had to squeeze past a crowd of reporters this afternoon to reach his locker and address his status for the final time. The session lasted close to three minutes and he was gone. Still representing the Orioles at the All-Star Game, still waiting to find out where he's playing later this week. Asked what he's heard from the Orioles or his agent, a weary Machado replied, "Nothing, nothing." "I haven't heard anything and I'm just worried about the game today and...
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Latest on Machado, Hader makes it hard for O's to forget (updated)

Latest on Machado, Hader makes it hard for O's to forget (updated)
The Orioles haven't changed their stance that Manny Machado will represent them tonight at the All-Star Game. There's no way he's going to be traded before first pitch. However, it still seems likely that he's wearing another uniform by Friday's start to the season's second half. A source confirmed again today that Machado probably will be moved by the end of the week. I wrote yesterday that it was "very close," and now comes word via ESPN's Buster Olney that the Orioles have the...
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More Machado before tonight's All-Star Game

More Machado before tonight's All-Star Game
Manny Machado will be introduced at tonight's All-Star Game in D.C., maybe tip his cap to the crowd, and try not to think about the possibility that he's playing shortstop for the last time while representing the Orioles. They aren't moving him back to third base. They could be moving him to another team later this week, with the Phillies, Dodgers and Brewers deemed again yesterday to be the three finalists, according to a source. Machado may not make it to Friday. It's that close. Rumors...
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Machado fields questions before All-Star ground balls

Machado fields questions before All-Star ground balls
WASHINGTON - The starting shortstop for the American League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game spent about 45 minutes this afternoon covering the same ground. Manny Machado sat at a table during the AL media session on the second level of Nationals Park and repeated how he'd prefer to play shortstop, but has no control over it if traded. Only in free agency does he wield such power. Machado wishes that he could stay with the Orioles, but if he's destined to be dealt he'd rather it happen soon...
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Machado hitting seventh for AL in All-Star Game

Machado hitting seventh for AL in All-Star Game
WASHINGTON - We don't know where Manny Machado will be playing this weekend. But we do know he'll be in an Orioles uniform on Tuesday night when the American League battles the National League in the All-Star Game at Nationals Park. Machado will hit seventh and play shortstop, having been elected by the fans. Machado is hitting .315/.387/.575 with 24 home runs, 64 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 96 games. He's the Orioles' lone representative in the Midsummer Classic Chris Sale of the Red...
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All-Star break brings more at-bats and questions for Machado

All-Star break brings more at-bats and questions for Machado
The All-Star break officially begins today. Players can relax at home or, for a few, in Toronto before opening the second half at Rogers Centre. Eliminates the travel day. It's a veteran move. Manny Machado is on a different schedule, of course. He's the one with the obligations, including today's media session at Nationals Park, where at least he's assured of finding a parking spot. It's going to be a circus-like atmosphere at Machado's table. My sole responsibility is counting how many...
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Wrapping up Machado's day and a 6-5 win

Wrapping up Machado's day and a 6-5 win
The mock crying from one of Manny Machado's teammates on the other side of the clubhouse following today's game was meant to lighten the mood, though the shortstop already was smiling and ready to represent the Orioles in Tuesday's All-Star Game. That part was real. Did Machado play his final game as an Oriole at Camden Yards? Let everyone else speculate and stress over it. At no point in the day did Machado, who homered in the first inning and later walked, step back and allow himself to...
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Machado homers in last game before break in 6-5 win

Machado homers in last game before break in 6-5 win
The applause for Manny Machado today as he walked up to the plate in the first inning had a familiar sound to it. But also a slightly different feel. Maybe it's just imaginations at work with Machado likely to be traded later this month, but there seemed to be an air of farewell. If Machado played his last game at Camden Yards as an Oriole, he punctuated it with a solo home run in the first in a 6-5 victory over the Rangers before an announced crowd of 18,754. Zach Britton allowed a two-out...
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The rotation, health updates and the break (O's up 6-5)

The rotation, health updates and the break (O's up 6-5)
As manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell line up the post-break rotation, they're cognizant of the need to give right-hander Kevin Gausman an extended break before his next outing. Gausman won't pitch again until July 23 against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. His most recent start came in Thursday night's makeup game against the Phillies, when he allowed five runs and a career-high 12 hits over five innings to leave his ERA at 4.33 in 112 1/3 innings. "Trying to give...
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Orioles lineup vs. Rangers

Orioles lineup vs. Rangers
Miguel Castro gets the start today for the Orioles as they close out the first half against the Rangers. Mike Wright Jr. also is expected to pitch behind Castro. Trey Mancini is on the bench, but he's fine. Manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to get Joey Rickard in the lineup. Danny Valencia is the designated hitter. Mark Trumbo is in right field. Showalter is deciding whether Andrew Cashner starts Saturday in Toronto, followed by Alex Cobb on Sunday, or whether he reverses the order. Kevin...
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More trade talk

More trade talk
The teams jockeying for position in the Manny Machado sweepstakes aren't hanging in one spot. The Braves, for example, seem less inclined to make a serious run at him as the days pass. They were Top 5 a few weeks ago, but the list didn't include the Yankees. And the Phillies, who were fourth, have moved past the Diamondbacks due to an increase in recent talks and depth of farm system. The Dodgers haven't gone away. Far from it. Of course, these rankings aren't based on a solid formula....
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