
#3. Orioles Kick-Off Rebuild By Trading Manny Machado
The Trade:
The Orioles opened the 2018 season with plans to compete. They signed free-agent pitcher Alex Cobb to a four-year contract and did not sell any pieces in the off-season to indicate that a rebuild was coming. Part of the reason they did so was in hope to re-sign Manny Machado following the conclusion of the season.
It would not be meant to be however as the Orioles ended up as the worst team in baseball and Machado was traded to the Dodgers kicking off what is now a lengthy rebuild in the Charm City.
In exchange for Machado, the Orioles obtained prospects Rylan Bannon, Yusniel Diaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop and Breyvic Valera.
While Valera would be let go the rest of the Orioles haul is thought of as key pieces for future success. Diaz is ranked as Baltimore’s 4th best prospect, Kremer is ranked 9th, Pop 19th and Bannon 21st.
Though no winner can be declared until these prospects debut, this trade will always be remembered as the one that kicked off one of the biggest rebuilds in Orioles history.