The Tigers have selected the contract of utiltyman Brandon Dixon from their alternate training site, the team announced. There was already an open spot on Detroit’s active roster since infielder Sergio Alcantara was previously optioned to the alternate site, and a 40-man roster spot was opened for Dixon since second baseman Jonathan Schoop has been moved from the 10-day injured list to the 45-day injured list, which will officially end Schoop’s 2020 season.
This will be Dixon’s first bit of Major League action during the 2020 season, following 544 career plate appearances with the Reds and Tigers in 2018-19. Detroit claimed Dixon off waivers from Cincinnati following the 2018 season and Dixon went on to receive pretty regular playing time last year, hitting .248/.290/.435 over 420 PA and actually leading all Tigers batters with 15 homers.
Dixon has mostly played first base in the big leagues but he has also seen quite a bit of action around the diamond, starting multiple games as a corner outfield, second baseman, and third baseman. (He also has one game played in center field and even four pitching appearances in late-game mop-up duty during blowouts.) This versatility should help Dixon continue to get looks at the big league level, and he is a useful player for the Tigers to have on hand for depth purposes.
A sprained right wrist sent Schoop to the IL (retroactively) on September 13, but the infielder will now wrap up what could his only season in Detroit. Schoop signed a one-year, $6.1MM deal with the Tigers last winter and enjoyed a productive season, hitting .278/.324/.475 and eight homers over 177 PA, good for a 114 wRC+ and 115 OPS+.
Cron & Schoop & the Tigers were all hoping for productive, healthy seasons that would see them flipped to a contender. They were productive, but both finish this lousy year on the IL.
Nice, I like the move for Dixon. Seems like a good dude and he did lead the Tigers in home runs last year.
Also, means I won my under bet on Scoop’s home run total of 9.5.
I am guessing Candy will get some time back at 3B, to get Dixon in the lineup.
Yawn………..
Schoop and Cron are the latest examples of Tiger bad luck with free agents….
Not sold on Dixon at all….
This is sheer stupidity: While Alcantara is at least a fringe prospect with defensive value, who might be able to hit a bit, Dixon is a AAAA veteran at best.
Gruß,
BSHH