The Lake Merced Goutfish held the league's highest spending power when analyzing their cap space against roster needs, leaving GM Ryan Atkinson the option to be selective in their chase of a star either through trade or Free Agency. Atkinson went with the former Tuesday night, landing third baseman Manny Machado (2/$48) from the Asti Grape Stompers in a complicated deal.
The Goutfish will receive Machado along with 2021 picks in the 2nd, 4th and 5th Rounds (30th, 60th and 75th Overall) with the Grapes receiving catcher Yasmani Grandal (3/$5) and picks in the 3rd, 6th and 8th Rounds (38th, 81st and 110th Overall).
12 months after Machado looked to be a lock to be dropped from the Grape Stompers on his $48 contract, the star third baseman slashed .304/.370/.580 in 2020 to remind everyone of the MVP-caliber talent he holds. Finishing third in the National League MVP race, Machado's underlying numbers speak to the improvement over his down 2019 season.
While his hard-contact numbers stayed relatively constant, Machado notched 16 homers in 254 PA by pulling the ball more than ever before (45.0 Pull%). In addition, he increased his batting average nearly 50 points, in part by upping one of the league's lowest line-drive rates (17.4%) in 2019 to a career-high 22.0% last season. The adjusted approach led to career-best marks in a number of key categories, including SLG (.580), ISO (.277) and wRC+ (148). To boot, Machado notched the best walk (10.2%) and strikeout (14.6%) rates of his career.
The move to add Machado signals that the Goutfish are serious about holding back top prospect Yordan Alvarez to start the 2021 season. The club is loaded with corner infield spots, likely leaving Alvarez without a spot on the roster as Machado, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and expected holdover Garrett Cooper lock in all of the available spots with Cooper sliding to the Utility slot where Alvarez is solely eligible.
The addition of the 2nd Round pick gives the Goutfish four selections in the round and six of the first 33 selections overall.
Grandal's time in Lake Merced was short after recently being acquired from the Mission Viejo Maulers and fills a major area of need for the Grapes who were without a catcher on the roster. Grandal has been a top catcher for nearly a decade, providing a high on-base and solid power option. This remains the case entering 2021, despite a relatively worse 2020 season. In 46 games, Grandal had his lowest average since 2014 likely due in part to a career-high 30% K-rate.
He's just a year removed from slashing .246/.380/.468 with 28 home runs in 2019, leading all catchers in scoring that campaign and is a solid bet to be a top five option again this season for the White Sox.
The trade included three pick swaps for the first time in RDBL History.
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