Milwaukee Brewers: Is Manny Machado heading to Philadelphia?

Rumors broke late Monday that the Philadelphia Phillies would include a top 100-rated prospect in their package for Manny Machado. What does this mean for the Milwaukee Brewers and their pursuit of Machado?

The Philadelphia Phillies are rumored to have included top prospect Adonis Medina in trade offer for Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado. This development puts the Phillies in the lead for the Orioles superstar. Are the Milwaukee Brewers already on the outside looking in at the Machado sweepstakes?

Who is Adonis Medina?

MLB Pipeline has Medina as the Phillies’ second best prospect and 73rd overall in the top 100. He’s only 21 years old, and is currently with the Phillies’ High-A affiliate. In 71 1/3 inning of work with the Clearwater Threshers, Medina has a 4.92 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 26 walks. His elevated ERA is due in part to the nine homers he’s allowed this year.

Medina boasts a plus fastball that sits in the 92-94 MPH range, but can touch 95-96 MPH. He also owns a developed change up and an improving slider.

How does this impact the Brewers?

Well, if the Milwaukee Brewers want to acquire Machado, they may have to include Corbin Burnes. A package built around Medina offers a superior value to the rumored Brett Phillips / Luis Ortiz offer reportedly made by the Brewers.

Should the Brewers walk away from the Machado deal?

If the reports are accurate, they should. While adding Machado would help their cause this year, offering a top-100 prospect for a three-month rental is too high. If Machado came with a contract that ran past 2018, the deal would make sense. But three months of Machado for Burnes is too great a price for the Brewers to pay.

Focusing their efforts on the Twins infielders or Mets starters make a lot more sense than going ‘all-in’ for Machado with Burnes.

Next: Which Brewers prospects are untouchable?

Burnes could develop into either an above average starter or a lights-out bullpen arm. The Milwaukee Brewers have built a solid core on offense, but lack impact arms in the rotation. Dealing away one of the few high leverage arms they have in their system for a three-month rental doesn’t make sense for their long-term outlook. If the goal is to build a team capable of competing year after year, then they need to hold on to players like Burnes and continue to build their pitching staff from within.