The Tigers announced a series of roster moves, including the news that infielder Dixon Machado has been designated for assignment. The 40-man roster spot will be filled by right-hander Victor Alcantara, whose contract will be selected from Triple-A before tomorrow’s game. Right-hander Warwick Saupold has also been optioned to Triple-A, with infielder Ronny Rodriguez headed up to the big league club.
Machado began the season as Detroit’s everyday second baseman, as the rebuilding team sought to give the 26-year-old a long look at the position with Ian Kinsler dealt to the Angels. He produced passable defensive grades but the bigger issue was Machado’s lack of hitting, as he managed only a .206/.263/.290 slash line and one home run over 233 plate appearances. The bat has never really been Machado’s calling card (he had just a .640 career OPS over 3329 PA in the minors), though the Tigers couldn’t ignore such a dire performance for much longer, especially with Niko Goodrum increasingly taking over regular duty at second base.
If the out-of-options Machado isn’t claimed or traded during his DFA period, he could still leave the organization as a free agent, as MLive.com’s Evan Woodbury tweets. Machado was outrighted off the roster back in 2013, so he would have the option of choosing free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.
Alcantara will join the Tigers’ Major League roster for the first time this season. The 25-year-old righty made his big league debut in 2017, posting an 8.59 ERA over 7 1/3 relief innings out of Detroit’s bullpen. He was outrighted off the 40-man in the offseason, though regained some stature within the organization with a 2.68 ERA, 8.4 K/9, and a 7.33 K/BB rate over 47 innings at Triple-A Toledo this season.
Dixon had more than enough chances to prove himself but he will never be more than a AAA player.
I am stunned that they designated him. With Iglesias a pending FA, he looked like he would be at least a utility player, if not a potential replacement for next year. Guess this means we will be signing Machado in the off-season.
I’m actually not surprised. Niko Goodrum has taken control of the role that Dixon’s was to lose. If he makes it through waivers, he may get yet another chance with the Tigers.
Machado for DFA.. Baltimore about to do the same with they own machado…
I’d love it if Baltimore signed him and traded Manny and just didn’t talk about it and see how long until casual fans at the park catch on.
Probably when he looks lost at the plate during his first AB
I have always loved the glove, but like so many others, his bat is rough. He’ll probably catch on elsewhere and have a Pete Kozma-esque career, journeyman injury replacement.
I’d say his arm surpasses Kozma, at least St Louis Kozma (best one) he’s such a fluid athlete and has a cannon. If they can revamp his swing he could easily be a regular
Having watched Dixon at short, his arm is average at best. Iggy has a very strong arm and Dixon pales in comparison.
I love these moves. Both needed to be done
Very good glove. Cannon arm. If they can revamp his swing then he’d be more valuable
Yes, more valuable but probably not a regular even with significant improvement.
If the kid could only hit….and with Iglesias hitting free agency the shortstop job was his.
Oh well….if only he could hit.
Iggy never learned to hit. Guess Dixon will become the next Eugeno Suarez, or Hernan Perez.
I’m also incredibly disappointed we lost Suarez and Perez, but Dixon isn’t comparable. Dude is terrible.
Dixon is very comparable to both Perez. Perez had a nice year initially at Milwaukee but he’s been a utility player barely hitting the last couple of years. Suarez was a horrible SS but has been a serviceable 3B. Trading him was fine if we had received something of value in return.
The Padres might want to grab him now incase they aren’t able to work out an extension with Galvis.
As good as Tatis Jr might very well turn out to be, he most likely won’t be given the keys to the everyday SS job until All-Star break next year, which leaves a hole at SS for the beginning portion of the year. You could plug Machado to bridge the gap.
Meanwhile, the rest of this year he can play in a utility role behind Galvis, Asuaje and Villanueva spelling those guys from time to time. Rumors have been floated around with his name to SD to a while, due to his blockage of SS by Iglesias, so I can see Preller taking a look.
Anyone know the precedent on tampering with regard to players in DFA limbo?
For instance, would it be acceptable for another team’s GM to call Dixon Machado’s agent and say there’d be ABs for him there and maybe even a job next year if he refused the outright and became a free agent?
wouldn’t the response be, “show me the money”?
This is the first time he is being outrighted. Doesnt that mean there is no option to refuse the assignment? I thought that came with the 2nd assignment.
He was outrighted back in 2013.
Dixon Machado was held onto over Suarez, Travis and possibly Adames although it was rumored TB demanded Adames over the other two to complete the David Price trade. With that said, they made a mistake by keeping him over Travis and Suarez. Cinci could have demanded Suarez over Machado as well so the one that you really have to be upset about is the Devon Travis trade which totally blew up in the Tigers face. After years of passing on better offensive players and selecting pitchers, Tigers are now realizing you need a balance of selecting both. Tigers had the unlucky year to have the number 1 overall pick and had to select Mize but my guy was Jarred Kelenic selected number 6. His bat has Bentendi written all over it so I hope Mize turns out to be at least a number 3 guy but Jarrend looks to be just the type of gap hitter Tigers needed in behemoth they call Comerica Park. 18 years and they still don’t get it. Homers sell tickets and they made the park a place where homers go to die. They have Cabby for 5 more years so you better bring in those fences or all you get out of Miggy are long fly outs.
The Tigers also gave away Hernan Perez, as others have pointed out, and dealt away Domino Leyba (Shane Greene trade) and Javier Betancourt (K-Rod trade). Leyba has yet to make it, and Betancourt has flamed out, but it seemed reckless at the time to be giving away all of their infielders, some in very poor trades. It’s possible that the presence of Machado made at least some of these guys available. Machado seems like a good kid. I wish him the best.
Yes, if only the Tigers had held onto a 2B who was really hot for a few months and then started a revolving door relationship with the DL. Toronto is as bad as the Tigers this year and he’s not even starting for them. Goodrum is as good as Travis and he stays healthy. Suarez turned into a nice 3B. Trading him was fine except we got nothing useful in return. Adames has done nothing in the minors or majors to prove he’s anything except another Iggy. I like Iggy and his offense has been solid in May/June/July but he’s not worth more than Norris & Boyd. One can question Miggy’s ability to stay healthy, but when healthy he has no problem with the fences where they are.
The Tigers better get somebody ready to play the infield next year when they trade off some of their veterans at the deadline this month. Paredes is probably 2-3 years away from the majors, Alcantara is 1-2 years away, and Lugo will be on the roster next year… but none of these guys is burning up the minors right now. Is Donny Baseball still in shape?
Nico Goodrum will be there and is doing a nice job at 2B with both his glove and bat. The Tigers would be in worse shape if they had no other option except Dixon. This is a good sign, new talent pushing out underperforming talent.
Machado will make it thru waivers without a problem because he refuses to accept that he’s not a power hitter. He jumped into the launch angle craze this year and transformed from a solid gap hitter to a pop up machine. Once he shows he’s willing to level out his swing he’ll be valuable again.
What ever happened to the .300 hitter with speed and no power? You could plug one into any team with success. Seems like that would be a great way to get to the Show instead of this launch angle craze. The pendulum will swing in another way soon enough.
He cleared waivers, the Tigers just announced.