The Diamondbacks appeared to have a new shortstop when they acquired former National League All-Star Jean Segura from the Brewers in a five-player deal. But there are signs out of Arizona that Segura will instead be used at second base.
D-backs manager Chip Hale told Jack Magruder that Segura could play "almost every day" if he shows that he can handle second base. That would be a change of pace for Segura, who has played 4,100 career innings in the field, all of them at shortstop.
Arizona already has a superior defensive shortstop in Nick Ahmed, but he has struggled offensively with a .226 BA and a .269 OBP in 159 games. Defense, however, may be a higher priority given all the resources the D-backs spent on bringing in pitchers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller.
The Diamondbacks still list Segura, a career .266 hitter with 96 steals, atop the shortstop depth chart on the team website. If that changes, it will mean reduced playing time at second base for Chris Owings, who took a step back offensively last season (.227 BA, .264 OBP).
When the trade went down earlier this winter, ESPN’s Keith Law warned Segura was a poor fit at shortstop. “At least Ahmed can play the heck out of shortstop, whereas Segura is below average, if you're charitable; he's a second baseman masquerading as a shortstop, if you're not,” Law wrote.
Here are more rumors making the rounds on Friday:
Cameron Maybin: The Detroit Tigers received bad news on Maybin, who will miss four to six weeks with a broken left wrist suffered in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. Anthony Gose, who was competing with Maybin for playing time in center field, will assume a regular role. The Tigers are not particularly deep in center field and could use Tyler Collins, who ended last season as the regular left fielder. Manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com’s Jason Beck the Tigers appear unwilling to promote prospect Wynton Bernard, who is scheduled to open the season at Triple-A Toledo.
Josh Reddick: Oakland’s Billy Beane told Jim Bowden on Sirius XM Radio that his front office is exploring a contract extension with the 29-year-old outfielder. Reddick, who hit .272/.333/.449 in 149 games last season, will make $6.75 million before being eligible for free agency. If a deal is not reached, Reddick would be a valuable trade chip this summer.
Travis Snider: Signed to a minor-league contract in January, Snider may have a better chance of making the Royals’ roster after Jarrod Dyson went down with an oblique injury. Dyson is expected to be sidelined six weeks and will likely start the season on the disabled list. Paulo Orlando becomes the front-runner for the everyday job in right field, while the Royals options include Snider, Reymond Fuentes and prospect Brett Eibner.
Guillermo Heredia: The Seattle Mariners will likely send the recently signed Cuban outfielder to Class A Advanced Clinton or Double-A Jackson to begin the season, reports MLB.com’s Greg Johns. Heredia has played in just one game since 2014 due to his defection from Cuba and the Mariners want to give him time to get comfortable.
David Dahl: The Rockies’ 2012 first-round pick will most likely begin the season at Triple-A Albuquerque and there is a “good chance” the 21-year-old outfielder will make his big league debut this season, writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Dahl has worked his way back from a ruptured spleen suffered in a violent collision during a Double-A game last season.