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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

AP Source: Dodgers land All-Star Manny Machado from Orioles

In this  May 19 file photo, Baltimore’s Manny Machado throws to first base  for a double play during the eighth inning  in Boston. (Michael Dwyer / AP)
By Ben Walker and David Ginsburg Associated Press

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the Manny Machado sweepstakes, garnering the prized All-Star shortstop from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade Wednesday night.

The Orioles received five prospects in the deal: outfielder Yusniel Diaz, right-hander Dean Kremer, third baseman Rylan Bannon, righty Zach Pop and third baseman Breyvic Valera.

Machado, a 26-year-old power hitter with extraordinary fielding skills, greatly improves the Dodgers’ chances of reaching the World Series for a second consecutive year. He led Baltimore in batting average (.315), home runs (24) and RBIs (65).

Machado is expected to be introduced in Milwaukee on Friday before the Dodgers open a series against the Brewers.

Machado’s contract expires at the end of the season, and the last-place Orioles decided against negotiating an expensive, multiyear extension because they have too many holes as the team moves into a rebuilding mode.

Though only a summer rental, Machado was coveted by a variety of contenders.

Los Angeles gets a four-time A.L. All-Star with two Gold Gloves who has 129 homers over the last 3 1/2 seasons. Machado was drafted third overall by the Orioles in 2010, made his big league debut in 2012 and spent his entire major league career in Baltimore.

The Dodgers are filling a gaping hole at shortstop created by the loss of Corey Seager, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May.

Machado moves from a cellar-dweller to a division-leading club in the middle of a pennant race. Not only that, but Machado likely gets to stay at shortstop, the position he manned this year after previously playing third base for Baltimore.

“I love playing short. I mean, I love it,” Machado said last week. “I’m more excited playing shortstop than I’ve ever been. I’m more into the game. This is where I’ve always wanted to be, this is what brings the best player out of me.”

The top acquisition for the Orioles in the deal is Diaz, a 21-year-old outfielder in Double-A. Diaz hit two home runs in the All-Star Futures Game last weekend. He’s hitting .314 with a .905 OPS with six homers, 30 RBIs and 36 runs scored this season.