BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox shouldn’t be concerned if Manny Machado joins Yankees

By Sean Penney

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 24: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out J.D. Martinez (not pictured) #28 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 24: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out J.D. Martinez (not pictured) #28 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Where do they put him on the field?

Machado is best utilized at third base where he’s a three-time Gold Glove award winner. He’ll never return to the off-the-charts level of the 35 defensive runs saved he produced in 2013 but he’s rated well above-average in each of his last three season spent primarily at the hot corner.

The Yankees have Rookie of the Year finalist Miguel Andujar cemented at third base. The 23-year old may be a butcher with the glove but there’s no obvious spot to move him to with Greg Bird and second half-sensation Luke Voit sharing the position on the other side of the diamond.

That would leave Machado at shortstop, a position he prefers but is woefully unqualified for. While he held his own in the limited sample following the trade to Los Angeles, Machado still rated as the third worst defensive shortstop in the majors with -13 defensive runs saved this season.

At least there’s an opening at the position while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery. It’s an unusual scenario considering the injury is typically associated with pitchers, creating an uncertain timeline that projects his return anywhere between June and August. The Yankees need someone to fill in at shortstop for a significant chunk of the season and perhaps beyond with Gregorius slated to hit free agency next winter.

Signing Machado would signal that Gregorius isn’t in their long-term plans. That paves the way for Machado to go unchallenged at the shortstop position for the foreseeable future but is that really a good thing for the Yankees?

Home/Red Sox News