Manny Machado: On keeping his trade a secret, meeting LeBron - and a deal he hopes gets done

Bob Nightengale | USA TODAY

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MILWAUKEE - Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado, his eyes darting across the room in front of strangers who are now his teammates, lowers his voice to nearly a whisper.

He doesn’t want to share this too loudly, doesn’t want to tarnish his bad-boy image, where he’s never been afraid to challenge anyone on the baseball field.

“There are so many emotions running through me right now,’’ Machado tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s just completely different now. I’m coming to a place where all they think about is winning. So, I have to switch my own mentality into a winning mode, not playing for myself, or trying to be selfish.’’

Just a few days ago Machado was on a team going nowhere, with the Orioles having the worst record in baseball, and 40 games out of first place. He now joins a team that’s in first place, vying for their seventh consecutive NL West title.

“I can’t tell you how much it means for the Dodgers’ front office, who were already winning without me,’’ Machado says, “to bring me over to help win a championship. Hopefully, I can help deliver that.’’

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It was a week ago Sunday when Machado homered for the 24th time this season, the Orioles playing the final game of the first half against the Texas Rangers, when he was removed after the fourth inning after a 26-minute rain delay.

The Orioles told reporters after the game it was simply for precaution, making sure Machado didn’t get hurt playing on a wet field.

They may have fibbed to everyone else, but they told Machado the truth.

“That’s when they had told me I had been traded,’’ Machado said. “They said they pretty much had a deal done. They just wanted to wait until after the break to get all of the medical stuff done.

“They kept me up to date as much as they could, but they wouldn’t tell me where I was going. Only that I was going somewhere.’’

Machado, keeping it coy, left for the All-Star Game pleading ignorance when reporters surrounded him Monday on media day. He kept quiet again before the game Tuesday, even after USA TODAY Sports reported he was going to the Dodgers, saying hes hadn’t been told anything. He played six innings, even playfully took a selfie of him and Dodgers All-Star outfielder Matt Kemp when he reached second base, but still hadn’t received official word.

“I kind of had a feeling it was going to be L.A.,’’ said Machado, who was hitting .315 with 24 homers and 65 RBI, “but at that point nothing was sure. When I took that picture with Matt, I didn’t know for sure we were going to be teammates, and certainly not locker mates.’’

Machado quietly departed Nationals Park before the All-Star Game was even over, this time waiting for the call that would change his life.

He waited by his phone most of the next day, and late afternoon, drove to Camden Yards, walked into the Orioles clubhouse, and began stuffing seven years’ worth of belongings into duffel bags. It was about 6 p.m. when his cell phone rang. It was Orioles GM Dan Duquette. He was officially traded to the Dodgers.

Machado started crying, called his wife, finished packing as quickly as possible, and rushed out the door.

“It was so emotional, it just hit me,’’ Machado said. “I was in that one little corner of the clubhouse for so long. All of those feelings came back. It was tough. So I stormed out of there.

“None of my teammates were in there, but I didn’t want anyone to see me like that.’’

He called a few teammates on his drive home, including close friend Jonathan Schoop, who immediately came over.

“I broke down and started to cry like a kid,’’ Schoop told reporters Friday. “You don’t want to believe it happened.’’

There were other teammates and friends that stopped by that evening. Machado talked to Dodgers president Andrew Friedman and GM Farhan Zaidi on the phone. Manager Dave Roberts called. There were flight arrangements to be made, new travel itineraries, as his whole world turned upside down.

Machado and his wife, Yainee, left the Baltimore-Washington International Airport Thursday, arrived to Milwaukee’s General Mitchell airport in the afternoon, and had a private dinner downtown at Carnevor restaurant with his agent, Dan Lozano, and two members of his staff. Machado prepared himself for this moment all season; still, his mind was racing throughout dinner.

“It was just so hard,’’ Machado said. “It’s the only organization I’ve known. The place I loved. They’re the ones who believed in me.

“But if I was going to be traded, we’re excited it’s L.A. It’s a new league. A new city. And a new journey.

“It would have been easier, I guess, if I had been traded last winter so you know everybody. But honestly, I’m glad it happened like this. I’m grateful for how it happened.

“So far, it’s like living a dream.’’

Machado was everything the Dodgers could have possibly envisioned in his first series against the Brewers. He had five hits in 13 at-bats and reached base in seven times as the Dodgers won two of three games against the team that nearly acquired him themselves. He made a dazzling highlight reel play in Game 2, ranging far to his right, throwing across his body, and nailing speedy Keon Broxton. And in the series finale Sunday, he got two more hits that included a run-scoring double, and twice robbed Ryan Braun of hits, leaving Braun muttering.

It will be another week, July 30, before Dodgers fans get their first look when he plays in his first home game, against the Brewers. The Dodgers still have seven road games in Philadelphia and Atlanta. When they finally arrive back in Los Angeles on Sunday night, Machado hopes to know everyone’s name, and have an idea where he’s living.

Yainee plans to spend this week packing and moving out of Baltimore, shipping their two cars, and finding a rental home for three months that includes a yard for their dog, Kobe, an Alaskan Kee Kai.

Yes, named after the man who won five championships with the Lakers.

“I’d love to meet him,’’ Machado said. “LeBron [James], too. I loved LeBron when he was in Cleveland. Loved him in Miami. And loved him when he went back to Cleveland. Hopefully, when we get to the playoffs, he can come out and cheer for us, just like he did for the Indians.

“I know Magic [Johnson] is one of the Dodgers’ owners, so I ain’t going to lie, that’ll be pretty cool to see him. But I don’t plan to do the Hollywood scene. Maybe a dinner once in awhile. That’s about it.

“I’m just here to play baseball and try to help this team get that one extra win they didn’t have last year.’’

The Dodgers fell a game short last year of winning their first World Series title since 1988, losing Game 7 to the Houston Astros. Now, with the acquisition of Machado, they believe they not only will win the NL West title, but the NL pennant, with another chance at that glorious ring.

“I know the feeling of being in the postseason and losing,’’ said Machado, whose Orioles got as far as the 2014 ALCS before getting swept by Kansas City. “It’s not fun. So I can just imagine the way they’re feeling being just one game away.

“I’d love to help make up that difference, and bring a championship to LA.’’

Maybe a historic championship would cause the Dodgers to scrap their future plans, and Machado’s too. When Machado hits free agency this winter, where he may receive the largest contract in baseball history, he’d like to remain at shortstop.

Machado’s preference likely signals a brief stay out West, with injured shortstop Corey Seager scheduled to return next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Besides, the New York Yankees are getting underneath the luxury tax for a reason, and it’s no secret they want Machado, who grew up a Yankee fan.

The Dodgers already grabbed the biggest impact bat on the trade market, and with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline just around the corner, Machado may soon be joined by a familiar face.

The Dodgers, who were engaged in trade talks for a month with the Orioles, tried to also include closer Zach Britton. They haven’t stopped trying. The Orioles are expected to trade him this week, with the Chicago Cubs and Astros also in hot pursuit.

“I know Zach is anxious for this whole process to be over with,’’ Machado said, “and it would be great if he comes here. You never know. I know they didn’t want to do a package deal before, but that doesn’t mean it can’t go down now. It would be cool for us to go through this together.’’

No matter who else comes aboard, Machado says that Baltimore and the intensity of the AL East prepared him for the ride of his life. He may be a Miami kid, with Baltimore his adopted home, but he’s ready to embrace all Los Angeles has to offer.

“Baltimore will always be in my heart, and I’m so grateful for what they did for me,’’ Machado says, “but I couldn’t be in better hands now.

“I know I’m ready for this. I can’t wait to get that winning feeling again.’’

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