Think about what would happen if Manny Machado suddenly became available as a potential free agent at the non-waiver trade deadline. Virtually every contender would jump, or at least consider acquiring Machado for the stretch drive and postseason.



Why should clubs react any differently now that Machado is available in the middle of the off-season, albeit with no deadline driving the process?



Rival executives say they’re “checking in” on Machado, the Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman, “doing due diligence,” employing all of the glorious code words that translate to, “Man, we’d love to get him. Let’s try and figure this out.”



The offers for Machado improved over the weekend, according to major league sources, though it is unclear which teams are the frontrunners, or whether the Orioles will actually complete a trade. The final decision will rest with owner Peter Angelos, who has been known to quash a...