We say it every time the Orioles are rumored to be in on a deal. And it’s pretty much always a joke at first. “LOL, the deal will be completed barring a snag, but it’s the Orioles!”
And then it’s not a joke:
Possible snag in Machado deal to Dodgers. Sources indicate that one or more of prospects coming to #Orioles have some issues in their physicals. Surprise surprise. May open door for other clubs. Stay tuned.
— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) July 18, 2018
“One or more prospects.” It’s like the Orioles told the Dodgers, “Hey, we’ve got an issue with one or more of the prospects … which ones? oh, well, I mean, we haven’t figured that part out yet.”
This is just how it is with them. I don’t entirely understand how they can operate this way, and perhaps, behind the scenes, they do get punished by other clubs for it (a lack of serious discussions with certain teams, for example). But at this point it sure looks like it’s just standard operating procedure for the Orioles to use the physical process – whether in free agency or in trades – as not a check against the health of a player, but instead as a pure leverage grab.
We’ll see if this deal still gets done as expected, or if they’ve blown up another one. Can’t imagine why or when they would have become more gun shy about trades …
The Orioles have acquired RHP Scott Feldman & CA Steve Clevenger from the Cubs in exchange for RHPs Jake Arrieta & Pedro Strop.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 2, 2013
UPDATE: The medical snag is not with the proposed centerpiece in the deal:
the medical holdup in the Machado trade isn't over top OF prospect Yusniel Diaz, the key prospect in the trade and one real name that's out there & confirmed. since it's apparently over a complementary piece (at least compared to Diaz), the chances to work it out are much better.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 18, 2018
UPDATE 2: Confidence out of Baltimore that it’ll get done:
Looks like the Machado trade to the #dodgers will go through. #orioles getting back 5 players. Told just some "final points to review" and that medical concerns have been "all but addressed." Not a deal-breaker. So stay tuned
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) July 18, 2018