Anderson

Machado

The Rich Aurilia signing means Machado could be sent through waivers once he’s healthy. He’s probably not going to have much of a role on the Reds.

No ACL damage is good news for the Reds. Machado likely will begin the season on the DL, but he shouldn’t miss the bulk of the year. The Rich Aurilia acquision means Machado will probably be placed on waivers at some point. The team will hope he clears, allowing him to continue his development at Triple-A Louisville.

No resolution is expected this week. Machado was injured in Venezuela nearly a month ago, and the Reds still don’t have an idea what is going on.

Machado underwent an appendectomy last month. He’ll be optioned to the minors in two or three weeks.

That was earlier than expected, as the last report said it would take a couple weeks. In any case, Machado will spend this season in the minors, eventually moving up as high as Triple-A.

He’s still recovering from an emergency appendectomy in March. Machado is a spectacular shortstop who sometimes loses focus on the routine playes. He also led the minors with 108 walks and the Double-A Eastern League with 49 steals, but his other offensive numbers were poor -- .196 average with 120 strikeouts. As manager Larry Bowa put it, ''Those are funny numbers.’'

This is where he belongs. Machado spent a week at Single-A Clearwater after coming back from an appendectomy. There’s nothing wrong with his defense, speed, or ability to take a walk. His inability to make contact is all that’s standing in his way of becoming a major league shortstop.

Anderson is fighting for a spot with the Reds in 2005 after a horrible 675 OPS in Triple-A this year. He’s started five of the Reds’ eight games since his recall and he’s 7-for-18 with four extra-base hits. It is possible he can make the Reds with a strong finish, but his eight strikeouts compared to just one walk in five games isn’t a great sign.

The Reds need to see if Machado, who was picked up in the Todd Jones deal, has any future with the club. He hit just .228/.326/.349 in Triple-A this year and he’ll be out of options next spring, so it’s not looking good for him.

Machado, who is out of options, should make the Reds as a reserve with a decent spring. If he doesn’t have a decent spring, well, he probably won’t have much trouble clearing waivers.