Machado’s lack of steals are deceiving

BALTIMORE — In his fourth full season in the Majors, Orioles All-Star Manny Machado is putting together a year worthy of American League Most Valuable Player Award consideration. But as the five-tool talent has posted career-best numbers in nearly every facet of the game, he’s seen a drastic decline in one area: basestealing.

A year after swiping 20 bags, Machado hasn’t stolen a base with just nine games remaining this season. It’s an unprecedented decline. No player has followed up a 20-steal season with none the next season while playing in 100 or more games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

At 24 years old, Machado doesn’t have diminishing speed. So why the sudden dropoff?

“I got [Mark] Trumbo hitting behind me, who’s got 43 homers and 100-something RBIs,” Machado said. “[Chris Davis] has 38 [homers], I think. If I get caught stealing a base, I mess up the team. … It is there, though. I can still steal bases, I’m just being smart about the situation.”

In essence, Machado, who said he has the green light, doesn’t think the risk outweighs the reward. Over the course of his 48 attempts in the Majors, he’s been caught 37.5 percent of the time. And in his three attempts this year — all before May 11 — he ran into an out each time.

Every basestealer deals with the risk calculation, though. What makes Machado’s case unique this year is the players batting behind him. Trumbo and Davis have combined for 126 extra-base hits, 81 of which left the park.

“We have just as much scoring …

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