Middle infielder Dixon Machado has agreed to a deal with Korea’s Lotte Giants, according to Emily Waldon of The Athletic (via Twitter). He’ll earn a $300K salary with a $200K signing bonus and a $100K option, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net tweets.
The 27-year-old Machado, a long-time Tigers farmhand, spent the 2019 season with the Cubs organization. In 393 plate appearances, he turned in a .261/.371/.480 triple-slash with 17 home runs.
Even in the context of a Triple-A-wide home run surge, that was an eye-popping power jump for a player that had never before hit more than six long balls in a professional campaign. KBO’s Giants will hope that he can continue to drive the ball after crossing the Pacific.
For Machado, who became a minor-league free agent at season’s end, this is an opportunity to secure significant earnings and reestablish himself in a country’s top league. He has had his chances in the big leagues, but struggled to gain traction. In 505 total MLB plate appearances over parts of four seasons, Machado mustered only a .227/.285/.295 batting line.
Tigers might as well rebuild now.
That’s what they are doing
I know. Forgot the sarcasm font.
He was a Iowa Cub this past season.
I know nothing about this guy but I’m suspicious when a player reportedly has a power surge from one season to the next.
He put on A LOT of weight too. Used to be a beanpole, 6’1″ and like 160 lbs, he’s up to 190 or so now, not sure when that happened but it seems like overnight.
Middle infielders traded or released in 18 month period;
Eugenio Suarez (for 1 yr of Alfredo Simon)
Willy Adames
Herman Perez
Devon Travis
Domingo Leyba
Javier Betancourt
Kept: Dixon Machado
Dombrowski…….
Ya old Dumbrowski caused the Tigers fall from grace with his trading everything good from farm, and signing FAS like water
Lotte stole this guy. If he’s marginally good, he’s a great investment.