Dixon

Machado

Machado is done playing ball after hitting .221/.345/.301 for the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate last season. The 33-year-old saw time in parts of four seasons with the Tigers from 2015-18, hitting .225/.285/.295 in 505 plate appearances. He went on to spend two years as a solid regular in Korea before returning to the U.S. in 2022 and appearing in five games with the Giants then. Those turned out to be his final games in the majors.

The 32-year-old infielder returns for his third tour with the Cubs — having spent time there in 2019 and 2022 as well. Machado spent each of the past two seasons toiling in the Astros’ organization, most recently slashing just .222/.317/.301 with three homers and 22 RBI in 45 games at Triple-A Sugar Land last season. He’ll add infield depth for the Cubs.

Machado suffered a Grade 2 quad strain last week and was ruled out for the rest of spring training. The 32-year-old infielder is expected to start the 2024 season at Triple-A Sugar Land.

It was initially believed to be a hamstring injury, but additional imaging revealed it to be a quad issue. Machado will miss the rest of spring training and open the year back at Triple-A Sugar Land.

Machado tweaked his hamstring and will be re-evaluated on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters following Wednesday’s Grapefruit League contest. The 32-year-old middle infielder is in Houston’s camp as extra organizational depth and figures to open the year at Triple-A Sugar Land.

Machado didn’t appear in the majors this season, but has gotten into 177 contests in the big leagues dating back to 2015. The 31-year-old veteran journeyman posted a .736 OPS with seven homers and one steal across 321 plate appearances in 81 games this season in Houston’s system. He’s merely upper minors organizational infield depth at this advanced stage of his career.

Machado, 31, came up short in his bid to earn a spot on the club’s Opening Day bench after hitting .267/.371/.400 with no homers and four RBI over 30 at-bats in Grapefruit League play. He’ll add depth at the Triple-A level.

Machado split last season between the Cubs and Giants at the Triple-A level, hitting .291/.372/.390 with six homers and 10 steals in 522 plate appearances. The 30-year-old shortstop wound up getting into five games for San Francisco this past season as an emergency stopgap solution. He’ll provide the Astros with some extra middle infield depth for the 2023 campaign.

After spending a pair of seasons playing in the KBO, Machado returned stateside for the 2022 campaign. He appeared in 121 games at the Triple-A level, slashing .291/.372/.391 with six homers, 46 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He also received a brief cup of coffee with the Giants, going 3-for-15 (.200) in five games. It’s unclear if he’ll look for another minor league pact or if he’ll head back overseas to continue his playing career in 2023.

Machado was designated for assignment a week after being acquired from the Cubs, but he will remain part of the Giants organization for now. The 30-year-old infielder is a career .226/.285/.292 hitter at the MLB level.