Hot Stove: Yankees check in on Manny Machado again

It's no secret the New York Yankees have been busy this offseason, whether it'd be acquiring players or inquiring about potential trade targets. One name the Yankees have focused on regarding the trade market is Manny Machado, the third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles.

While it seems unlikely the Orioles and Yankees will partake in a major blockbuster deal--the two teams are American League East rivals--it hasn't stopped the Yankees from checking in on the third baseman, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

The Yankees are one of many teams to inquire about Machado; the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Philadelphia Phillies have also shown interest. However, Heyman speculates the Yankees might be the best fit due to their plethora of minor league prospects.

The Yankees currently have a hole at third base after trading Chase Headley to the San Diego Padres as a salary dump. Despite the Yankees making the most sense for a blockbuster trade, the Orioles are insistent on not trading to the Yankees. The Orioles also advised other teams that if they were to successfully trade for Machado, they couldn't flip him to the Yankees in exchange for their minor league prospects.

Along with trading Headley, the Yankees also acquired Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins, and re-signed CC Sabathia to a one-year contract. The team is currently $20 Million under the luxury tax threshold for next season, which gives them enough wiggle room to either sign or trade for a starting pitcher.