Late Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the sports world with their sudden acquisition of Luka Dončić. That trade got us thinking: what would it take for the Toronto Blue Jays to pull off a blockbuster trade akin to the Lakers' acquisition of Dončić?
Not only was the Lakers' trade for Dončić shocking because of the names involved (he was traded for Anthony Davis, marking the first time two reigning All-NBA players were traded for each other), it was also monumental because of how it reshaped the NBA landscape overnight.
While there's never going to be a perfect comparison (baseball and basketball are different sports, after all), let's explore how the Jays could make a seismic move to land one of baseball's premier talents.
The Jays make a swing for Manny
Blue Jays receive: Manny Machado
Royals receive: RHP Trey Yesavage, LHP Ricky Tiedemann and SS Arjun Nimmala
Machado might seem like an untouchable piece in San Diego, but the Padres could be looking to move on from of the giant contracts they've doled out in recent years (Machado still has eight more years left on his $350 million contract).
Harold thinks the Padres should be open to trading one of their star positional players instead of one of their top starting pitchers. #MLBNHotStove | @jonmorosi pic.twitter.com/PKOkZNFdv8
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 28, 2025
Why the Blue Jays would want Machado
Toronto is in win-now mode. The franchise has spent years developing a strong young core, headlined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Bo Bichette, and has worked to add more bats this season. That said, they still need one more difference maker.
Machado fits the bill. He’s an elite third baseman and is an impact player on both sides of the ball, and never seems to shy away from the big moment. Acquiring Machado would give the Blue Jays an immediate boost in the middle of the lineup, along with providing protection for Guerrero.
Why the Padres would consider trading Machado
The Padres are in a strange financial situation, as they made a bunch of win-now moves but now appear to be trying to cut payroll due to their unstable ownership situation. They handed out massive contracts to Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, and Frenando Tatis Jr. but are staring down a Dodger-sized barrel for the foreseeable future. Trading Machado could provide the financial flexibility to retool their roster while still remaining competitive.
This deal gives the Padres a promising young prospect at shortstop, while also providing a serious pitching depth for now and years to come. While the move is not exactly like the Lakers' deal for Dončić (Dončić is six years younger than Machado), it would change the landscape in the American and National League.