Phillies Rumors: Machado Remains Club’s ‘Top Target’

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Contrary to MLB.com's July 6 report that the Philadelphia Phillies have "moved on" from Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, the four-time All-Star, in fact, remains the club's "top target," according to Fancred's Jon Heyman on Tuesday.

The Phillies had a scout at the Orioles game against the New York Yankees Monday night, per Heyman, but in the meantime are also "targeting other infielders as backup plans." The club also reportedly had representatives at the Minnesota Twins-Kansas City Royals game on Monday, according to Darren Wolfson, with most interest likely in utility player Whit Merrifield.

Read: Phillies Hot Stove: Stark on Eflin, Franco, Machado, Royals

Other teams rumored to have interest in Machado include: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and most recently the New York Yankees. Machado insists, however, that he is a shortstop, which would eliminate interest from some of the interested teams.

The Phillies will face Machado and the Orioles in a makeup game this Thursday at Camden Yards. It is safe to say hot stove is on — and burning hot — with exactly three weeks until the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.