Red Sox add minor league infield insurance with Machado

By Jim Callis
February 15, 2005

Another year, another trade for Alejandro Machado. Machado was dealt for the fourth time in five seasons Tuesday, with the Nationals sending him to the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Machado, 22, signed with the Braves out of Venezuela in 1998. Atlanta sent him and Brad Voyles to the Royals for Rey Sanchez in July 2001, and Kansas City shipped Machado and Wes Obermueller to the Brewers for Curtis Leskanic in July 2003. The then-Expos acquired him for future considerations last April.

Machado is unlikely to play a big league role for Boston, but he'll serve as insurance at the Triple-A level. In 139 games between high Class A Brevard County and Double-A Harrisburg last year, he batted .306/.377/.385 with five homers, 45 RBIs and 30 steals (in 45 attempts). He doesn't have much power at the plate, but he's a switch-hitter who has produced for average in the minors, draws walks, bunts well and uses the whole field. He's an average runner with good instincts on the bases. He plays a very smooth second base, making just four errors in 85 games there last year, and has the range and just enough arm to play shortstop. Machado is a career .291/.377/.353 hitter with nine homers, 183 RBIs and 154 steals in 590 minor league games.

March 28 update: The Red Sox finalized the deal by sending first baseman Carlos Torres to the Nationals. Torres, 20, signed out of Venezuela in 2002. He made his U.S. debut last season, tying for the home run crown and earning all-star honors in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He hit .257/.368/.466 with 31 RBIs in 42 games. Power is his best tool, and Torres also has a decent idea of the strike zone. He needs to shorten his swing and repeat it more consistently. He also will have to improve defensively after committing nine errors in 38 games at first base.