Hello L.A.!

The Dodgers made the big splash at baseball's mid-season swap meet, grabbing standout shortstop Manny Machado from the Orioles for top outfield prospect Yusniel Diaz, infielder Rylan Bannon and three lesser lights. This deal could and should establish the Dodgers as clear favorites to take the NL West. The defending National League champs stumbled out of the gate this season, then lost their star shortstop Corey Seeger. A recent hot streak pushed them to the top of their division.
Now, with the addition of Machado's power and over .300 average in his walk year, they should be able to put some distance between themselves and the rival Giants, Rockies and Diamondbacks. On the other hand, the parks are bigger in the NL West and Machado is swapping the homer haven at Camden Yards for Dodger Stadium, whose contours and conditions have always favored all around hitters since the days of Willie and Tommy Davis. So a period of adjustment might be needed before L.A. sees the payoff from the trade. And let's not overlook that Machado remains a free agent at season's end. With nine figures of money waiting for him over the winter, the Dodgers at best get the chance to steep their new aquisition in the club's tradition and hope he likes the California lifestyle.
Machado won't have to deal with any frigid nights in L.A. the way he did when the Orioles visited the Yankees early this April.

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