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AL East Notes: Machado, Price, Barnes, Rasmus

By Steve Adams | April 10, 2017 at 11:53am CDT

Manny Machado’s capability to play shortstop could impact the Orioles in both the short- and long-term picture, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The 24-year-old Machado will hit the open market following the 2018 season, and he tells Rosenthal that he still thinks about playing his natural position of shortstop even though he’s spent the bulk of his career at third base (and become one of the best defensive third basemen in the game — if not of all-time). Asked about the thought of playing shortstop on a consistent basis, Machado replies: “I’m not going to lie. It’s always been there. … I played a little bit there (last year). That was fun. I trained this year to play there just in case anything happened.” Machado also acknowledges, though, that he’s experienced great success at third base, rhetorically asking, “So why change?”

As Rosenthal notes, the Orioles hold a $14MM option over J.J. Hardy at season’s end, and the ability to move Machado to short could impact their thinking. (Although the option would vest and become guaranteed if Hardy tallies 600 PAs.) Beyond that, though, Rosenthal wonders if Machado would be enticed by the opportunity to play shortstop on an everyday basis when he reaches free agency in the 2018-19 offseason, whether in Baltimore or elsewhere.

A few more notes pertaining to the AL East…

  • Red Sox left-hander David Price threw a 20-pitch bullpen session today and came away from the workout feeling good, he told reporters (via Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald). The key for the former AL Cy Young winner, however, will be seeing how he feels tomorrow. Price has yet to pitch for the Sox this season after a forearm issue led to a scare during Spring Training and, prior to today, hadn’t thrown off a mound since Feb. 28, Jennings notes. Farrell said that if Price feels strong tomorrow, another mound session would be lined up for Wednesday. There’s still no definitive timeline when it comes to Price’s return, but Jennings notes that he won’t pitch in the Majors until at least May.
  • In a Red Sox bullpen that has quite a bit of uncertainty throughout its ranks, right-hander Matt Barnes has emerged as the primary setup option for closer Craig Kimbrel, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. That could change, potentially, when Tyler Thornburg is ready to come off the disabled list, but Barnes’ early showing and the struggles of many of his teammates have him primed for a big role in the Boston ’pen. ““A guy that’s maybe a little bit more seasoned than some others in some of those big spots, he’s going to be a pivotal guy in our bullpen,” said Sox manager John Farrell to MacPherson. The 26-year-old Barnes averaged 9.6 K/9 against 4.2 BB/9 with a 45.6 percent ground-ball rate out of the bullpen last season, and he’s logged a 5-to-1 K/BB ratio through his first 3 2/3 shutout innings in 2017.
  • Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that Colby Rasmus’ rehab assignment with the Rays’ Class-A Advanced affiliate in Charlotte is still on hold for a few more days, likely pushing the outfielder’s debut back until next week. Rasmus was involved in an outfield collision in Charlotte last Thursday, as Topkin reported, and while he remained in that game, the team is now proceeding rather cautiously. Topkin also suggests that speedster Mallex Smith will likely head to Triple-A Durham once Rasmus is healthy enough to rejoin the Major League roster. Rasmus, who signed a one-year, $5MM contract with Tampa Bay this winter, is recovering from offseason hip surgery.
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Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Tampa Bay Rays Colby Rasmus David Price Mallex Smith Manny Machado Matt Barnes

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42 Comments

  1. dwilson10

    8 years ago

    I think the O’s should decline Hardy’s option and move Machado to SS. There are a few free agent 3rd basemen that could be available for them to sign that would fill in great.

    Reply
    • mstrchef13

      8 years ago

      Essentially, you would be replacing Hardy with a new 3B. It should be easier to find a 3B who is a better player than Hardy than a SS.

      1
      Reply
      • Opposing Views

        8 years ago

        Offensively, sure. But defensively Hardy is still an excellent player.

        2
        Reply
  2. joshb600

    8 years ago

    Isn’t the statement “…if not all time” a bit steep for a 24 year old?

    6
    Reply
    • DannyQ3913

      8 years ago

      I concur

      1
      Reply
    • monk

      8 years ago

      It should be, but you clearly haven’t watched enough of machado if you don’t think he’s as good defensively as anyone to ever play the position

      2
      Reply
      • joshb600

        8 years ago

        I believe part of being able to be called one of the greatest at their position is to not only play elite defense but do it for a long, long time consistently.

        2
        Reply
        • monk

          8 years ago

          Good point about being able to do it for a long time consistently but if you look at every aspect of his game defensively, it is flawless (his arm strength has to be up there with the best of the best, you can’t deny that)

          Reply
      • chesteraarthur

        8 years ago

        ah, so you’ve watched enough of every other 3b in the history of baseball to make that claim? gotcha.

        6
        Reply
    • K3vin

      8 years ago

      Having watched him on a daily basis that statement may not be far from the truth.

      1
      Reply
      • monk

        8 years ago

        Thanks k3v dog

        Reply
  3. A'sfaninUK

    8 years ago

    Mallex Smith currently leads the AL in SB, lol

    Reply
  4. locutus

    8 years ago

    Tough to be in the ‘of all-time’ conversation when he’s not even the best of his era. Arenado has that distinction.

    Reply
    • thestripedtaco

      8 years ago

      Defensively Machado is in another tier above Arenado and any other third basemen in the game. He makes plays that literally should not be possible.

      1
      Reply
      • Brixton

        8 years ago

        Eh, Arenado is just as good as Machado, he just doesnt get the media coverage

        2
        Reply
        • mstrchef13

          8 years ago

          Because Baltimore is such a fantastic media market. If you want to support Arenado, that’s fine, but come up with a better argument than that, please.

          1
          Reply
        • Bruin1012

          8 years ago

          According to defensive metrics Machado is better and it’s really not close.

          1
          Reply
        • stymeedone

          8 years ago

          Yes, Baltimore, being in the AL East and contending more recently, has been the better media market than Denver.

          2
          Reply
        • thetruth 2

          8 years ago

          According to Baseball-Reference, Arenado’ dWAR for 2016 is 2.3, Machado’s is 2.2, so not only is Arenado better but it’s very very close.

          1
          Reply
        • Bruin1012

          8 years ago

          And according to fangraphs Machado is better and it’s not real close tit for tat.

          Reply
      • chesteraarthur

        8 years ago

        also adrian beltre and josh donaldson are pretty close to machado

        3
        Reply
        • monk

          8 years ago

          I’m a huge Donaldson fan and his the aggressiveness he plays with at 3rd makes him very good but defensive skill doesn’t compare to machado

          1
          Reply
      • Bruin1012

        8 years ago

        Arenado is great no question about that but he isn’t as good defensively as Machado and it’s really not even close.

        1
        Reply
        • outinleftfield

          8 years ago

          They don’t want to hear the truth Bruin. Today Machado is the best and he and Beltre are head and shoulders above everyone else.

          Reply
        • lesterdnightfly

          8 years ago

          They might be head and shoulders above others, but it just proves that dandruff affects lots of people, even wealthy athletes.

          Reply
  5. Ironman_4life

    8 years ago

    Even though the Orioles general manager does not care what I think , If it’s not broke don’t fix it

    2
    Reply
  6. bucketbrew35

    8 years ago

    He has a long way to go before I deem him better defensively than Schmidt and Robinson at third. He’s off to a great start though.

    1
    Reply
  7. bobtillman

    8 years ago

    Before he got hurt all the time., I thought Ryan Zimmerman might be the best I ever saw, even better than Robinson, Brooks…..That said, Machado may very well be in the discussion…..he’s very very good.

    1
    Reply
  8. vinscully16

    8 years ago

    … not optimistic about Price. Shame, was eager to watch Sale-Price in the rotation all year. As for Kimbrel, that guy makes me uneasy with his Jeff Reardon-like way of ending games. Kimbrel is not the sure thing of 3-4 years ago.

    Reply
  9. ln13

    8 years ago

    Carl Ripken, Jr. says Adrian Beltre is the best defensive third baseman he’s ever seen play.

    Reply
    • El Duderino

      8 years ago

      Cal have any thoughts on that?

      3
      Reply
    • lesterdnightfly

      8 years ago

      Does he own Carl’s Jr.?

      2
      Reply
      • K3vin

        8 years ago

        Carl is the lesser known of the Ripken brothers sorta like Cooper and the Manning’s.

        1
        Reply
        • ln13

          8 years ago

          deadspin.com/5949506/tbs-would-like-to-introduce-y…

          Reply
        • lesterdnightfly

          8 years ago

          Billy Ripken is the Other Other Brother. Love his baseball card with the labeled bat.

          Reply
  10. cws2021

    8 years ago

    According to DRS I believe Beltre is second all time. Several other sabremetrics stats show him in top 5 all time. Beltre also likely collects hit 3,000 so you could hes not even the best 3B in the game right now.

    Reply
    • outinleftfield

      8 years ago

      DRS has Beltre 1st. UZR has Beltre 1st. UZR/150 has Machado 1st and Beltre 2nd.

      DRS and UZR are a calculated as a cumulative total of all seasons played, not an average or peak season. Beltre has a 206 DRS in 19 seasons or 10.8 DRS on average with a peak of 27. Machado has a 77 DRS in 5 seasons of 15.4 DRS on average with a peak of 35.

      Machado has the potential to be the best ever if he continues to play 3B. Both of these guys are head and shoulders above the rest of baseball on defense at 3B.

      1
      Reply
  11. outinleftfield

    8 years ago

    My question is would Machado be worth more money playing SS? He and Harper are being talked about as possibly getting baseball’s 1st $400 million contract ($400 million and 12-13 years) and an AAV of $30 plus million per season. $35 million per year is not out of the question with him playing 3B. Would he make $40 if he was a shortstop?

    Reply
    • baberuthbomber8

      8 years ago

      And all MLB contracts are guaranteed… damn that is crazy

      Reply
    • lesterdnightfly

      8 years ago

      “Would he make $40 if he was a shortstop?”

      Sure. He’d even make $40 per minute easy, I think.

      That’s 40 times more than Br’er Bear made.

      Reply
  12. stymeedone

    8 years ago

    I just love that they are lauding Barnes based on his incredibly large 3 and 2/3 innings pitched this year.

    Reply
  13. totoiv

    8 years ago

    I don’t see the big deal on this article. Machado contract with the Os is up after the 2018 season…and…so is Hardy’s. So, how does Hardy’s contract impact the possible Machado signing. Unless, the Os want to show good faith and move Machado to shortstop for 2018? I like Machado and would love the Os to sign him long term. His defense is awesome. He needs to improve his clutch hitting with men in scoring position. And, he needs to run the hits out, especially to first base. Even old Jim Palmer has criticized Machado’s occasional lack of hustle.

    Reply

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