"He's the correct definition of a utility guy: not only can he play all over the diamond and has played all over the diamond, he's actually good enough defensively to warrant the usage. This differs from a lot of "utility guys" who simply don't have a position and aren't very good at most of the harder assignments, but get used there anyway because teams value "flexibility.""
"Anyway, back to the present. The Braves have Mauricio Dubon. They no longer have Nick Allen. Will they get another shortstop and give Dubon the reins to an actually-used utility super-sub role? Will he just become the shortstop because they can't find any offseason alternatives to their liking? Will they look for a shortstop upgrade midseason instead? It's up to you to guess. (Accounting for injury makes this an impossible task... what if Dubon is the one that gets hurt?)"
Mauricio Dubon joined the Braves and fits the definition of a true utility player, capable of playing multiple positions and offering quality defense. Many utility players lack defensive skill and are merely moved around for flexibility, but Dubon defends well at several spots. Emilio Bonifacio exemplifies a misapplied utility player who was strong in corner outfield and acceptable at second but was pushed into shortstop and center despite limitations. The Braves now have Dubon and no longer have Nick Allen. The team could use Dubon as a frequently used super-utility, install him as the everyday shortstop, or pursue a shortstop upgrade during the offseason or midseason. Injuries make the outcome uncertain.
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