Manny Machado is naturally a shortshop, but Buck Showalter and the Baltimor Orioles have been placing him at third base for years.
Machado has played much of his first six seasons in the Major Leagues at third while J.J. Hardy was positioned at short.
But now that Hardy left Baltimore this offseason, Machado may very well man shortstop. Tim Beckham would shift to third base.
"There could be some adjustments down in [Spring Training]," Showalter said. "That's where we're going to head into it and there's a chance we could adjust from there. But I've talk to both Manny and Tim about it and we think it's our best setup right now."
When Hardy missed time because of a left foot fracture in 2016, Machado took over for 43 games at shortstop but slid back over to third in 2017 and stayed there after the Orioles traded for Beckham. Machado spent a majority of his time in the Minor Leagues at short.
Beckham has appeared in nine career games at third, but showed the versatility to play both second base and shortstop during parts of four seasons with the Rays.
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