WASHINGTON _ A media horde surrounded Manny Machado's locker a few hours before Tuesday night's All-Star Game, waiting for the Orioles shortstop's reaction to rumors he will be traded to the Dodgers.
"I'm not worried about it," Machado said, basically repeating the mantra he has maintained since the start of the Machado sweepstakes at the beginning of spring training.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the American League clubhouse, Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ, who hails from Peru, Ill., and attended Northwestern, had a more intimate group asking him about the possibility of a deal to the Cubs.
"I've had some messages for sure, hoping I'd know something one way or another regarding a lot of different things," Happ said. "I don't. You never know what has legs behind it and what's speculation. If I heard something, I just keep going for it."
Happ, 35, is 10-6 with a 4.29 ERA for the Blue Jays, and is 40-21 with a 3.57 ERA over the last three seasons for them, including 20-4 in 2016. With Yu Darvish still a ways from returning from the disabled list and Tyler Chatwood struggling, the Cubs could be looking at a back-of-the-rotation starter for the second half.
Is the idea of being a Cub appealing?
"Sure it would be," Happ replied. "I think winning is appealing. That's kind of the No. 1 thing."
