Unsurprisingly, the Baltimore Orioles have been receiving calls on star third baseman Manny Machado according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports.

Heyman notes that the Orioles aren’t currently shopping Machado but they’re willing to listen on any player including their young stud infielder.

Machado, 25, is coming off a down season in 2017 when he hit .259/.310/.471 with 33 doubles, 33 home runs, 95 RBI and 102 wRC+. Even his defense was a step below his normal output with a career-low 4.7 UZR and tied a career-low with only 6 DRS.

Machado will become a free agent after the 2018 season and is expected to get a massive contract that is likely too rich for the Orioles.

The Orioles finished last season at 75-87 and at the bottom of the AL East with no current reason to expect that to change in 2018 so it would be a surprise if he wasn’t traded at some point.

Another third baseman has popped up in trade rumors and that is Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have talked to Rays about closer Alex Colome and could shift those talks to include Longoria if they strike out in their attempt to get Giancarlo Stanton.

Longoria, 32, hit just .261/.313/.424 with 36 doubles, 20 home runs and 86 in 156 games for the Rays in 2017. His 100 OPS+ was the lowest of his career despite his strikeout rate dropping 5% and his walk rate up from 6.1% to 6.8%.

The veteran third baseman did play good defense though with 11 DRS and 3.2 UZR, both big improvements from his -9 DRS and 0.6 UZR in 2016. Longoria has five-years, $86 million left on his contract and the Rays would have to trade him before the start of the 2018 season before he gets his 10-and-5 rights.

Other MLB News and Notes

Stanton has said he would approve a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs according to Craig Mish of SiriusXM.

The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed pitcher Mike Fiers to a one-year, $6 million deal according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. The 32-year-old was non-tendered by the Houston Astros last week after posting a 5.22 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 153.1 innings for them in 2017.

Catcher Derek Norris signed a minor league deal with the Tigers. He hit .201/.258/.380 in 53 games for the Rays in 2017.

Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports reports that the Padres are serious about their pursuit of Eric Hosmer and that current first baseman Wil Myers is amenable to moving back to the outfield to make room for him.

Heyman also reports that the Padres are looking at adding a shortstop with a trade for Freddy Galvis and signing Alcides Escobar as two options.

The Oakland Athletics have designated infielder Joey Wendle for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Yusmeiro Petit.

Right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow received a one-year major league deal from the Kansas City Royals according to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com.

Former major league catcher Wilin Rosario is signing a deal with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan after spending the last two seasons in Korea.