The long and short of a position change for Machado

The Orioles shifted their focus to the offseason before their flight from Toronto landed at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Wheels up, eyes forward.

Decisions must be made regarding qualifying offers for pending free agents, arbitration figures and possible non-tenders, upgrading positions and depth, sorting through the minor league free agents, finding a replacement for pitching coach Dave Wallace.

They've got shortstop J.J. Hardy under contract for one more season and can back-burner him again, but he's going to present another decision down the road.

Hardy signed a three-year extension worth $40 million in October 2014 during the workout day for the American League Championship Series that included a $14 million vesting option in 2018 based on plate appearances or whether he's traded.

Hardy would need 600 plate appearances for the option to kick in, a total he's reached four times in 12 seasons and once since 2012.

Assuming he comes up short again, could Hardy sign a third extension with the Orioles, and if so, what are the club and major league records? He also agreed to a three-year, $22.5 million extension in July 2011.

The main reason I'm broaching the subject this morning is because there are lots of fans who want Manny Machado to slide over to shortstop, as he did this year for 43 starts. It's not hard to find officials and scouts outside the organization who agree.

It's just not unanimous.

Machado is a great third baseman. We don't know what he'd do over a full season at shortstop in the majors, though it's his natural position. The assumption is he'd be good at the very least.

One official raised his hand over his head when talking about Machado as a third baseman, indicating that the player is so far above others at the position. A true difference-maker worthy of Platinum Glove consideration.

The same official lowered his hand when evaluating Machado as a shortstop, signaling that the player is quite good but without the same dramatic separation.

You'll find people in the organization who think Machado's stint at shortstop this year took a bit of a toll on him. Not that he couldn't handle it. It's just that all seemed right with the Orioles' world after Hardy returned from the disabled list on June 18.

Machado is a Gold Glove finalist at third base, but Hardy was excluded at shortstop. Hardy still has the same sure hands and his leadership in the infield can't be overstated, but he doesn't have the same range. Who does at 34?

Machado hit .301/.342/.526 with 25 doubles, 26 home runs and 69 RBIs in 468 at-bats at third base and .273/.347/.552 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 172 at-bats at shortstop. He committed seven errors in 329 chances and registered a 10.4 ultimate zone rating (UZR) at third and committed six errors in 207 chances and registered a 1.9 UZR at short.

Hardy registered an 11.2 UZR and 14.3 UZR150 this season. Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor had a 20.8 UZR and 20.7 UZR150. The Angels' Andrelton Simmons had a 15.4 UZR and 25.1 UZR150. The Tigers' Jose Iglesias had an 11.6 UZR and 11.4 UZR150.

This isn't about Hardy totaling 26 home runs over the past three seasons after hitting 30, 22 and 25 during his first three years with the Orioles. It isn't about Hardy being limited to 114 and 115 games the past two seasons. It's whether Machado should be the starting shortstop in 2018, or earlier if you're pushing for a Hardy trade.

Is it worth the significant drop at third base? No replacement is going to be on Machado's level.

Discuss.

The Orioles were shut out in the 11th annual Fielding Bible Awards, which is ironic because shutouts are often linked to good defense.

Only one winner is chosen at each position, which differentiates this award from the Gold Gloves.

A panel of 12 experts rank 10 players at each position on a scale from one to 10. First place receives 10 points, second place receives nine, etc. The player with the most points receives the award, with the winners published in the Bill James Handbook.

Machado was a unanimous selection in 2013 and the youngest player to win the award at 21, but the Rockies' Nolan Arenado was a repeat winner this year.

Arenado's 20 defensive runs saved (DRS) topped the Mariners' Kyle Seager and the Rangers' Adrian Beltre with 15 and Machado with 13. Machado's drop to fourth is primarily due to his move to shortstop. However, his 13 runs saved in 998 innings gave him a higher rate than Beltre with 15 in 1,219 innings and Seager with 15 in 1,400 innings.

Machado, Beltre and Seager are the Gold Glove finalists in the American League. Industry rumblings have Machado losing, but we'll find out on Nov. 8.

Here are the Fielding Bible Award winners:

First base: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second base: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Angels
Left field: Starling Marte, Pirates
Center field: Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays
Right field: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
Catcher: Buster Posey, Giants
Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel, Astros
Multi-position: Javier Baez, Cubs