The truest Orioles fans have been bracing for this moment for years, the possibility of watching the franchise’s best homegrown talent in a generation don another team’s uniform. The same vibrant fan base that was revived by third baseman Manny Machado’s youthful exuberance knew that more than likely he’d be playing his prime years for another team.
It’s the reality the Orioles face now — in some ways because they spent several years leading up to this moment kicking the can down the road on Machado’s future — and now the talk of baseball’s winter meetings centers on whether they will deal Machado this offseason one year before he’s eligible to hit the free-agent market and reap what could be a record financial commitment at the ripe age of 26.