The Arizona Diamondbacks recently made a key trade to boost their hitting numbers -- but that doesn't necessarily mean they're done looking for help in their batting order.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that the D-backs have discussed a possible trade with the Baltimore Orioles for slugger Manny Machado. The 25-year-old third baseman and shortstop is batting .310 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs this season.
Morosi's report comes less than two weeks after the D-backs acquired outfielder Jon Jay from the Kansas City Royals. Morosi said the D-backs and Orioles also discussed a Machado trade before the season began.
Sources: #DBacks, #Orioles have been in contact about a possible Manny Machado trade this season. Dialogue remains open between the clubs. This is viewed as due diligence on Arizona’s part as the team’s needs become clear. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 19, 2018
Machado was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft and has spent his entire MLB career with the Orioles. He is a career .282 hitter and has hit over 30 home runs in each of his last three MLB seasons, including a career-high 37 in 2016. He is a three-time All-Star Game selection and a two-time Gold Glove winner, and he has twice finished in the top-five in American League MVP voting.
Machado is in the final year of his contract with the Orioles and is set to make $16 million this season.
The D-backs have been among the league leaders in runs scored over their last 11 games, but they remain last in the National League in batting average and are eighth in slugging percentage. Outfielder A.J. Pollock hit .293 with 11 home runs in his first 40 games of the season, but he has missed the last five weeks of the season with a fractured thumb. Outfielder Steven Souza, who hit 30 home runs with the Rays last season, was acquired by the D-backs in a trade before the season began, but he has most of the season due to injury.
The D-backs enter Tuesday night's game at the Los Angeles Angels with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West division.
The 2018 MLB trade deadline is July 31.
