The Baltimore Orioles have started the season poorly, which has increased speculation that Manny Machado will be on the trading block before long.

The Chicago Cubs have often been linked to Machado, but Theo Epstein downplayed the club's current chances to add the infielder.

"I understand it's natural for people to connect the dots and there to be this kind of frenzy from time to time, but it's honestly something we're looking at and just rolling our eyes at," Epstein told 670 The Score. "It's not like July, where every now and then there's lots of coverage on deals that are actually being discussed or actually might happen. This one is just out there in fantasy land at this point."

Machado will be a free agent this coming winter.