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Detroit Tigers links: Tigers acquire Alexi Casilla because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Tigers traded for infielder Alexi Casilla to bolster minor league depth, but is there more going on than meets the eye?

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers have lost a lot of middle infield depth from their farm system in recent years. Devon Travis, Eugenio Suarez, Hernan Perez, Domingo Leyba, and Willy Adames were all in the system at this time last year, and now all are playing in other organizations. That's a lot of depth to lose in one calendar year.

On Monday, the Tigers made a pair of moves to rectify that situation. They acquired infielder Alexi Casilla from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Casilla, a 30-year-old Dominican who has appeared in just one major league game since 2013, drove in the winning run for the Minnesota Twins in Game 163 in 2009. Casilla played for the Toledo Mud Hens on Monday evening. The Tigers also signed infielder Alberto Gonzalez last week and sent him to Double-A Erie.

While adding depth makes sense, the Tigers' plan for Casilla does not. Dixon Machado, a slick-fielding shortstop prospect, has been working at third base recently per the organization's wishes. This isn't a move out of necessity, as Machado has the best infield glove in the system save for defensive wizard Jose Iglesias. Machado has only appeared in two games at the hot corner -- and played shortstop in Monday's game -- but there seems to be little explanation for shifting him off of short. It only marginally increases his trade value, as anyone who sees Machado as more than a utility infielder will stick him at shortstop, not third base.

Of course, there was also this...

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