Detroit Tigers: Second base replacements if Ian Kinsler is traded

Dixon Machado

Ian Kinsler played 135 games at second base last season. Andrew Romine, who has already been claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, was next, appearing in 27 games at second.

If Kinsler is traded that would leave 25-year-old Dixon Machado, who also appeared in 27 games at the keystone in 2017.

Coming up, Machado was labeled a defensive wizard who will struggle to hit at the major league level. That has been the case so far.

Machado hit .259/.302/.319 with a 64 wRC+ and a -0.5 fWAR in 73 games last season.

In 105 games spread across three seasons, Machado is a .246 hitter with a 63 wRC+.

Machado fared much better in Triple-A, where he boasted a 10.2% walk rate in 2016 en route to a 106 wRC+ across 569 plate appearances.

Machado’s future will likely be as a glove-first utility man capable of manning second, short and third base.

However, if the Detroit Tigers moved Kinsler than Machado would immediately jump to the top of the depth chart.

At 25, there is a chance Machado’s bat will come around and that he will be a major league regular.

For a rebuilding team it is worth taking a gamble on Machado who has already proven he is capable with the glove in the Majors..

Nick Franklin

Nick Franklin was taken in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners.

He was an instant success, rapidly rising through the minor leagues. He blasted 23 home runs and stole 25 bases in Single-A in 2010.

Then, Franklin put up a 151 wRC+ at Double-A in 2012 and a 147 wRC+ at Triple-A to start 2013. Shortly into 2013, Franklin made his big league debut.

Unfortunately, Franklin’s minor league success has yet to translate to the majors.

He hit .225 with 12 home runs, six stolen bases and a nice 10.2% walk rate in 102 games with the Mariners in 2013, good for a 0.8 fWAR.

Since then Franklin has played on four different teams, accruing 462 at-bats and slashing .206/.271/.342 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases.

Still, the 26-year-old has posted strong walk numbers in the majors and has seen his strikeout rate decrease from 27.4% in 2013 to 18.5% in 2017.

Franklin has served as a utility man in his career, playing every infield position and both corner outfield positions.

He graded out as a strong defender with a +2 DRS and a 35.6 UZR/150 at second base last season in 77 innings, although he has struggled there in the past.

There is reason to believe that a 26-year-old with strong minor league numbers could find his groove and display some of that power and speed that helped him ascend to the Majors so rapidly.

At the very least, he can be a serviceable replacement for Romine and will cost next to nothing as a minor league free agent signing.

Christian Colon

Christian Colon and Nick Franklin have a similar backstory: a former first-round pick who dominated the minor leagues, made his debut early and struggled while displaying good walk numbers and improving strikeout numbers in the show.

Colon was the fourth-overall pick by the Royals out of baseball powerhouse Cal-State Fullerton in 2010.

While he did not hit as well as Franklin in the low minors, he did post double-digit home runs and stolen bases while limiting his strikeouts.

Colon debuted in 2014 but has only earned 386 plate appearances over four seasons. He has posted a .252/.315/.315 line with one home run, five stolen bases and a 73 wRC+.

The former Royal offers less positional versatility than Franklin but is a stronger defender at second base, posting a very nice 7.2 UZR in 478 career innings.

Colon is 28 and has yet to hit consistently in the Majors.

However, his career 7.8% walk-rate and plus defense means he is only a little shy of being a glove first, light-hitting regular at the keystone.

He won’t develop into a star, but for a team scouring the market for inexpensive contributors, Colon is worth the investment.

Detroit Tigers fans are entering a rebuilding phase that may test the resolve of even their most loyal fans.

Next: Tigers announce prospects added to 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft

Finding potential hidden gems like Franklin and Colon will help bridge the gap while the team allows their prospects to develop on the farm.