Dixon Machado arrived in San Francisco from St. Paul, Minnesota at 11:20. By 1:00, he was settled into his Oracle Park locker.
“Just really excited to be here,” Machado told reporters in the Giants’ clubhouse. “I’m not even tired. I might feel it after the game today, but right now I’m just happy to be here.”
Desperate for reinforcements at shortstop, the Giants traded Triple-A reliever Raynel Espinal to the Cubs for Machado. The 30-year-old will start Sunday’s series finale with Brandon Crawford (knee) and Thairo Estrada (head) shelved on the injured list.
Machado is a defense-first shortstop. He last played in MLB in 2018, spending two seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization. He said he’s learned consistency and matured during his baseball journey.
In 172 MLB games between 2014 and 2018, all with the Tigers, Machado hit .227 with two home runs. He played Double-A ball with bullpen/catching coach Craig Albernaz, was teammates with injured Giants pitcher Matthew Boyd and played against Wilmer Flores.
Machado is with the Giants out of necessity. The Giants’ true starting shortstop, Brandon Crawford, has been on the injured list with a knee injury since July 16. He’s been taking grounders and working out on the field with the team and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, manager Gabe Kapler said.
Estrada, who has been filling in for Crawford, hit the 7-day concussion injured list after getting hit in the head by a Mark Leiter Jr. changeup. He was in the clubhouse but declined to speak with reporters.
Estrada leads the Giants in hits and stolen bases.
“It’s tough,” Kapler said. “You lose Estrada, he’s been such a core piece of our team. See that we’ve lost several of those. Today’s lineup is not what you would’ve expected on a day like today. We’re ready. We’re excited about the challenges and the grind.”
Jason Vosler replaced Estrada for the least four innings on Saturday. He hadn’t played shortstop since 2015 at the Low-A level. In the ninth inning, the ball found him three times for double play opportunities, but the Giants failed to turn any.
The Giants also don’t have many viable options in their farm system. Isan Díaz, the River Cats’ current starting shortstop, has hit 20 homers but is more of a second baseman. SF also is likely to face several left-handed starters this week, which wouldn’t be a good matchup for Díaz. Donovan Walton, who has moonlit for the Giants at times, is injured.
San Francisco also traded Mauricio Dubón, a young utility player, to the Astros earlier this season for catching help. Dubón has a .585 OPS for Houston but surely would have helped in a scenario like this.
At 1:35, Machado fielded grounders out of San Francisco’s infield practice machine. As long as Crawford and Estrada remain out, the Giants will require a pair of sure hands.
“Got to meet him this morning, came into my office with a big smile on his face,” Kapler said. “Ready to rock n’ roll and play shortstop for us.”