Tigers see Dixon Machado as MLB player, but where does he fit?
Detroit – This situation with infielder Dixon Machado has a déjà vu feel to it -- kind of like the Detroit Tigers are about to relive the Danny Worth saga all over again.
Truly, though, this is different.
Machado, as Worth had done prior to the 2014 season, has used up his minor league options. The Tigers can’t send him back to Triple-A without exposing him to waivers. Like Worth in 2014, Machado has had eight years of minor league seasoning and has nothing else to prove or gain at the Triple-A level.
But here’s where the similarity ends. The consensus within the Tigers organization is that Machado can be an everyday shortstop. Worth never garnered that organizational belief – as evidenced by the acquisitions of Andrew Romine and Alex Gonzalez prior to the 2014 season, after Jose Iglesias was injured and lost for the season.
“Machado is a guy who we think should be able to hit enough to be an everyday guy,” general manager Al Avila said during the Winter Meetings. “He may not ever be a great hitter, but he might hit enough – though that’s just our projection.”
It is significant, too, that the Tigers have listened intently to trade offers on Iglesias this winter. The San Diego Padres, still searching for a shortstop, reached out to Avila toward the end of the Winter Meetings.
Had the right offer been made, Avila was prepared to pull the trigger and go into spring training with Machado and Romine at shortstop.
According to several reports, the Padres offered 25-year-old centerfielder Travis Jankowski for Iglesias. Though speedy and an elite-level fielder, he doesn’t project to hit enough to be an everyday player.
With their center fielder of the future, JaCoby Jones, knocking on the door, the Tigers didn’t want to trade Iglesias for stop-gap outfielder.
But it tells you how highly they think of Machado. Losing him to waivers is not an option at this point. And yet, how does he make the 25-man roster? Here are, barring injury, three ways it can happen:
1. The Tigers trade Iglesias: Avila’s phone lines are still open and the Padres, as well a few other teams, are still in need of a shortstop upgrade. This could still happen.
2. The Tigers trade second baseman Ian Kinsler: If that were to happen, Machado would go to spring training with a shot to win the second base job – even though he’s played very little second base in his career.
That scenario is blacked out at the moment. At the end of the Winter Meetings, Avila declared the market for Kinsler had “dried up.” It has not shown any signs of rejuvenation since.
The Dodgers could possibly come back on Kinsler if their efforts to acquire the Twins’ Brian Dozier fail. But that seems like a reach at this point.
3. The Tigers decide to keep Machado as their utility infielder: For this to happen, the Tigers would have to commit Romine to the outfield as the backup or platooning center fielder.
The Tigers are still searching for an affordable veteran starter in center. Austin Jackson, Michael Bourn, Gregor Blanco, Desmond Jennings and Colby Rasmus are still on the market. But as it stands now, Tyler Collins, Jones, Anthony Gose and a few minor league free agents will fight for the center field job this spring.
Romine played center field for the first time last season, filling in when Cameron Maybin was injured, and he made a seamless transition to the position. He showed he had the speed and athleticism to cover the spacious center field at Comerica Park.
Henning: Market flip-flop puts Tigers in trading flux
He’s also a switch-hitter who’s posted an on-base percentage over .300 the last two seasons.
So, assuming Jones will start the season at Toledo and if the Tigers don’t see what they like from Gose or any of the non-roster invitees, it’s not too far-fetched to see Romine breaking camp as one of the five outfielders and Machado as the utility infielder.
That scenario could keep a spot for outfielder Steven Moya, who like Machado and Collins, is out of minor league options. The five outfielders would be Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez, Collins, Moya and Romine.
It’s not optimal, but it may be Machado’s best hope to stick.
If not, the Tigers, like they did with catcher Bryan Holaday at the end of camp last season, will see what they can get for Machado in a trade, as opposed to losing him on waivers.
Wonder if the Padres would consider Machado for Jankowski?
Twitter @cmccosky