Lakeland, Florida — One thing definitely is different at 2018’s Detroit Tigers spring camp.
Ian Kinsler is absent — from the infield and from the clubhouse.
Kinsler now works for the Angels. After four years of Kinsler doubling as an up-the-middle fortress and locker-room touchstone for elder teammates and for rookies, the Tigers are switching to a new man, Dixon Machado, a shortstop who will move to the infield’s right side.
No one is quite sure how it will go. Machado, who turns 25 on Thursday, has played in 105 big-league games, most at shortstop.