There were bound to be casualties after the Oakland A’s blockbuster three team deal that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves. Considering the influx of players that needed to be put on the 40 man roster, someone was going to lose their spot.
Vimael Machin was that player. According to Martin Gallegos from MLB.com, Machin was designated for assignment following the trade on Monday.
Oakland A’s hoping to slip Vimael Machin through waivers
Machin had been notable during his time in the minors for his ability to make contact and defensive versatility. The A’s were intrigued enough to acquire him from the Cubs during the Rule V Draft, hoping that they could have another Ben Zobrist type of player, someone who could slot around the infield while providing an above average major league bat.
While his versatility had been valuable, Machin never produced as the A’s would have hoped. He posted a .208/.290/.261 batting line in his 361 plate appearances over parts of three major league seasons, hitting one homer and 12 doubles. Machin still made contact and drew walks at a respectable rate, but was unable to do anything with the contact he made.
Nonetheless, Machin is still a somewhat intriguing player. He has a track record of success in Triple-A, having posted a .307/.400/.468 batting line with 16 homers and 34 doubles over his 741 plate appearances. Machin also showed signs of starting to figure out the majors last season as he posted a .736 OPS with seven doubles over his 94 plate appearances in the final month of the season.
While that may intrigue other teams, that performance will likely intrigue the A’s as well. There is a chance that he can be a solid major league option, especially with his ability to play around the infield. It is just a matter of whether or not they can keep him through the waiver process.
The Oakland A’s have placed Vimael Machin on waivers to open a spot on the 40 man roster. His time with the organization could be ending.