By Jake Russell, The Washington Post
After months of speculation, Manny Machado is being moved …
… to shortstop.
The Orioles star, who was rumored to be on the trading block this offseason, appears to be sticking around Baltimore — for now. But he will be making the move from third base back to his natural position of shortstop.
The position change was announced by Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter at the team’s fan fest event Saturday, which Machado did not attend.
Machado, who has one year left on his contract with the Orioles, is set to hit the open market at the end of 2018 as part of one of the most impressive free agent classes baseball has seen in years.
The 25-year-old established himself as one of the best third basemen in the game during his six first seasons in Baltimore, winning Gold Gloves in 2013 and 2015. But he had pined for a return to his original position
“It was something I had always dreamed about, playing shortstop in the big leagues. I proved to myself I can still play that position and do that,” Machado said in February regarding the 44 games he played shortstop in 2016.
Tim Beckham, who was a revelation for the Orioles following a July trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, will transition to third base after playing 118 of his 137 career games at shortstop. Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, batted .310 with 10 home runs in 50 games for Baltimore in 2017.
The Orioles shopped Machado this winter but did not find a deal.
Orioles Vice President of Baseball Operations Brady Anderson told media Saturday the team missed its window of opportunity to sign the young star to a long-term contract after his second knee surgery in 2014. Anderson also said he doesn’t like “chasing your own free agents around,” something they may have to do if they wish to keep Machado in Baltimore.
