Cubs sign former Cubs infielder Dixon Machado

Photo courtesy: Iowa Cubs

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Thu Feb 13 19:24:34 GMT-05:00 2025

With the Cubs officially missing out on Alex Bregman now that he signed with the Boston Red Sox, most fans are wondering what comes next. Could that be trading for Dylan Cease or adding Justin Turner? Either of those happen, as the Cubs will have to figure something out soon.

Even with Bregman off the market, the consensus feeling is that the Cubs are not only the best team in the NL Central but the favorites to win that division. For the most part, that does seem reasonable to do this season, but everyone inside the organization has the same feeling of being one piece away from being serious contenders.

Making the playoffs is the goal for this season, but this is an organization that shouldn't be just making the playoffs. Their goal every season should be to compete for a deep playoff run; for the most part, they have the resources to get that done. With the Cubs being one player away, you expected to see some move made in the next few days, but seeing Dixon Machado added to the team wasn't the move anyone coming.

The 33-year-old journeyman infielder is on his way to Mesa as he and the Cubs have come to terms on a Minor League deal. If the name Dixon Machado sounds familiar, it would be because he was in the Cubs system several years ago and was a member of the 2019 and 2022 Iowa Cubs. In his first go around with Iowa, Machado hit .261 across 102 games, with 17 homers and 65 RBIs.

Usually, numbers like that would have you knocking on the MLB door, but with Javier Baez as the shortstop at that time, Machado was blocked and was nothing more than a minor-league depth piece. Then came 2020, when the world came crashing down as COVID shut down the 2020 Minor League season.

Knowing that he would be out of work that season, Machado elected to move to Japan and spent the next two seasons playing for Lotte Giants. As expected, Machado put up some excellent numbers overseas to the point where he wanted another opportunity stateside and joined the Iowa Cubs again ahead of the 2022 season.

It was during that season that Machado got his first big break as a Cub, hitting .312 across 86 games in Iowa, connecting for two homers and 31 RBIs. While the increased average was great, his lack of power was a bit of a concern, but with 47 walks to 41 strikeouts and gold glove-caliber defense, he was once again making a name for himself, to the point where the Cubs traded him to the San Francisco Giants later that season.

Even if the sample size was minimal, it was the first time Machado had an opportunity to play in an MLB game since 2018, which is an accomplishment. Throughout his long professional career, Machado has bounced around the league a time and has primarily been what you would call a Minor League depth player.

However, he has appeared in 177 games across five different MLB stints, with 172 games coming in four seasons with the Tigers. Known for his defense at short, Machado has struggled at the plate and has hit just .226 in his career, with two homers and 37 RBIs. The fact that he was able to earn another MLB opportunity after four years away is a massive accomplishment, and he will look to keep his MLB career going a tad longer.

While this wasn't the move anyone saw coming, it's one of those moves you expected the Cubs to make, as they never shy away from Minor League depth options. He is the definition of a versatile infielder, similar to Jon Berti, and can give you plus defense at three of the four infield spots.

From an offensive side, Machado isn't going to give much production, but that isn't what is going to be asked of him. He knows his role in the MLB and what he needs to do to remain in baseball. Look for him to bring a veteran presence to the Iowa clubhouse this season while giving the Cubs even more organizational depth.