The Padres announced they’ve selected corner infielder/outfielder Brandon Dixon onto the major league roster. San Diego designated outfielder Luis Liberato for assignment in a corresponding move.
Dixon is back on a major league roster for the first time in two years. Initially a Dodgers draftee, the right-handed hitter was dealt to the Reds as a prospect and made his MLB debut with Cincinnati in 2018. He bounced to the Tigers via waivers the following offseason and played his most significant MLB role with Detroit in 2019. Dixon tallied 420 plate appearances and collected a team-leading 15 home runs, but he struck out at a 32.5% clip and hit only .248/.290/.435. The Tigers designated him for assignment and outrighted him off the 40-man roster the following winter.
While Dixon made it back to Detroit briefly at the end of the 2020 campaign, he was granted his release heading into 2021 to pursue an opportunity in Japan. The Arizona product signed with the Rakuten Eagles and split the year between their major league team and their minor league club. While Dixon hit well in the minors, he struggled in 38 NPB games and came back to the United States this past offseason. Dixon inked a non-roster deal with the Friars during Spring Training, and he’s split the season between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso.
The 30-year-old has hit extremely well at both stops. He’s cranked 23 home runs in just 50 combined games, posting an on-base percentage above .400 while slugging over .780 for both affiliates. Thanks to those eye-popping minor league numbers, Dixon will get another look against big league arms. He’s split his defensive action between all four corner spots in the minors, but he’ll presumably work mostly as a right-handed bench bat for skipper Bob Melvin. Dixon has yet to reach arbitration eligibility, so the Friars could keep him around beyond this season if they’re willing to devote him a 40-man roster spot.
Liberato just earned his first major league call a few weeks ago. The longtime Mariners prospect signed a minor league deal with San Diego over the winter, and he’s spent much of the season in El Paso. Liberato had an impressive .261/.354/.541 showing with 20 homers for the Chihuahuas, but he’s been used in a very limited role since being promoted. The 26-year-old hasn’t gotten a start, although he’s come off the bench seven times (usually as a pinch runner). He’s gone hitless in his first five MLB at-bats, striking out three times.
San Diego will place Liberato on waivers over the next few days. Given his strong Triple-A numbers this year and ability to cover all three outfield spots, it’s possible another club will take a no-risk flier to add to their outfield depth. Liberato still has all three minor league option years remaining, so any team willing to keep him on the 40-man roster could stash him in Triple-A for the foreseeable future.
DFA a former prospect already pad’s? Why Dixon this just seems like a strange move to me.
Thoughts??
Poor Liberato, never even got to have a first MLB hit. Maybe he’ll hold on and get another chance next year
Hopefully he stays, why call up a guy who couldn’t even manage with the Tigers. Lol…
LA got over 2.0 fWAR from Trayce Thompson for half a season. He couldn’t manage to crack Detroit’s lineup either.
Luz de la Luna Liberto. (Google translate will help.)
This guy is putting up video game numbers!
Ok so you DFA a guy who isn’t playing for a guy that probably isn’t going to play. They both had strong minor league numbers so that’s a draw. Liberato is 4 years younger though.
Could have just not made this move and kept both for a look in ST next year / store in AAA.
Don’t really get the upside for the move.
They’re probably just trying different guys out at the end of the year. They’re both minor league FA signings, not really a ton of upside either way.
Neither one of these guys was on the 40 man on Sept 1, so neither is even eligible for the playoff roster.
Dixon is taking the roster spot of someone on the 60 day IL, so he is playoff eligible.
No he’s not, he took Liberato’s roster spot hence his DFA.
Go to Padres.com and read the article. Dixon is playoff eligible.
LATEST NEWS
Sept. 27: IF/OF Brandon Dixon selected from Triple-A El Paso; OF Luis Liberato designated for assignment
Dixon has raked in the Minors all year, posting an absurd .374/.442/.823 slash line between Double-A and Triple-A. Now, he’ll look to play himself into something of a pinch-hit/bench role with the Padres. The righty-hitting Dixon, who would be eligible for the postseason roster in place of a player on the 60-day IL, can play both infield and outfield corners.
“I haven’t had a set position for about five years, so I’m guessing it’s going to be similar,” Dixon said. “Outfield, infield, whatever they need, I’ll just be ready.”
Dixon, who owns a .228 career batting average across 558 plate appearances with Cincinnati and Detroit, was a childhood Padres fan, born in La Jolla.
“To be wearing the uniform now, it’s unreal,” Dixon said.
mlb.com/padres/news/padres-injuries-and-roster-mov…
What that article means is IF someone goes on the 60 day IL, then he could be eligible. So in the terrible scenario that one of the other position players is seriously injured, then they could petition the commissioner’s office to allow him to be on the playoff roster.
As it stands now, he’s not eligible barring injury.
I’m guessing Dixon would have been a minor league FA if not added to the 40.
Let’s Go Brandon!
Love it!!!
Hell yeah! He led the tigers in home runs that year. No one would have ever predicted that.
What a great feel good story. Guy is 30 years old and born in San Diego. After spending a year in Japan and struggling, he spent 50 games in AA and AAA and put up Ruthian numbers. 1.265 OPS with 23 HR in 198 AB. Now he gets to play for his hometown team in a playoff run.
You have got to cheer for this guy.