NICK MATON

Two years ago, the headline on this same story read: “Tigers have system stocked with prospects at third base.”So where are they now, and why are the Detroit Tigers entering 2023 with a vacancy at third base? TIGERS IN 2023: This is the fifth in a series of profiles on the Detroit Tigers’ organizational depth heading into the 2023 season. That would be Nick Maton, a left-handed hitting infielder acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies as part of the Gregory Soto trade. Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield steals third base before Detroit Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes can tag him in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)APMost starts at third base for Tigers through the years2013: Miguel Cabrera2014: Nick Castellanos2015: Nick Castellanos2016: Nick Castellanos2017: Nick Castellanos2018: Jeimer Candelario2019: Dawel Lugo2020: Isaac Paredes2021: Jeimer Candelario2022: Jeimer Candelario

Jonathan Schoop will open spring training as the Detroit Tigers’ presumptive starter at second base. But it will be a very tenuous position: The Tigers are loaded with young and not-so-young infielders hungry for his at-bats. SECOND BASEMEN IN THE SYSTEMOn the 40-man roster: Ryan Kreidler, Andre Lipcius, Nick Maton, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Short, Wenceel Perez. Possible assignments:Detroit: Schoop, Maton, SchoopTriple-A Toledo: Lipcius, Short, Perez, Davis, Ibañez, Palacios, John ValenteDouble-A Erie: Corey Joyce, Andrew Navigato, Luis Garcia, Trei Cruz. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)AP2013: Omar Infante2014: Ian Kinsler2015: Ian Kinsler2016: Ian Kinsler2017: Ian Kinsler2018: Dixon Machado2019: Gordon Beckham2020: Jonathan Schoop2021: Willi Castro2022: Jonathan Schoop

The Phillies' unique clubhouse was integral to their World Series run. So, why did they just send away two key characters for a volatile reliever?

The Detroit Tigers are finalizing a deal that would send two-time All-Star closer Gregory Soto to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Tigers would send Soto and infielder Kody Clemens to the Phillies in exchange for infielder Nick Maton, outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands. Soto, who turns 28 in February, became the Tigers’ first back-to-back All-Star selection since Miguel Cabrera’s seven-year streak (2010-2016). Infielders (10): Javier Báez, Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Kreidler, Andre Lipcius, Nick Maton, Tyler Nevin, Wenceel Perez, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Short, Spencer Torkelson. Outfielders (6): Akil Baddoo, Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Austin Meadows, Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling.

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies are set to play the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Astros reliever Phil Maton says he broke his right pinkie when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale and will miss the postseason.

Mets reliever Nate Fisher pitched three scoreless innings of relief in his major league debut after working at a Nebraska bank a year ago, Mark Canha hit two homers and drove in five runs and New York rallied past the Philadelphia Phillies 10-9.

Zack Wheeler struck out eight over six sharp innings, Bryson Stott hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies won their ninth straight game with a 4-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bryson Stott hit a game-winning, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning after Bryce Harper tied it with a grand slam in the eighth, and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 9-7 victory that sent slumping Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels to their 11th straight defeat.

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber each homered twice and the Philadelphia Phillies won in interim manager Rob Thomson’s debut, 10-0 over the Los Angeles Angels.

Andrew McCutchen drove in four runs and the Philadelphia Phillies erased a six-run deficit against the Washington Nationals to earn a 7-6 victory and a three-game sweep.

Mets ace Jacob deGrom gave up two runs for the first time this season and New York rallied after he exited, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Michael Conforto’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

Bryce Harper blew kisses at a booing crowd to punctuate his home run, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 2-1 in eight innings for a doubleheader split after Aaron Nola matched a long-standing major league record with 10 straight strikeouts in the opener.