The 2016 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread...

[LT Profits]

Major bummer for sure.

Yes because he is not some overpaid superstar that goes to All-Star Games annually, this may have been his only chance at the age of 33.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

You have to feel bad for Marco Estrada. Yesterday he was named to his first All-Star game on his 33rd birthday. Today he goes on the DL and will miss the game.

tough break

[Chi_archie]

don't forget to go to mlb.com and vote for Marte

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2016/fv/ballot.jsp

[BigSpoon]

You have to feel bad for Marco Estrada. Yesterday he was named to his first All-Star game on his 33rd birthday. Today he goes on the DL and will miss the game.

Corey Kluber has been named as his replacement, would have gone for Aaron Sanchez myself being a homer.

[koz-man]

On this date in 2012, Bryce Harper became youngest position player to make an All-Star team. He was 19 years-old.

[El Nino]

don't forget to go to mlb.com and vote for Marte

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_st.../fv/ballot.jsp

Nope VOTE LAMB!

[El Nino]

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s Jake...from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dbacks?src=hash">#Dbacks</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoteLamb?src=hash">#VoteLamb</a><a href="https://t.co/K21fydDeU6">https://t.co/K21fydDeU6</a></p>&mdash; #VoteLamb (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/750848239478255616">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Chi_archie]

On this date in 2012, Bryce Harper became youngest position player to make an All-Star team. He was 19 years-old.

Good piece of trivia

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Drew Pomeranz with another lights out performance..

7IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 6 Ks

[EmpireMaker]

Ervin Santana is the “most likely” member of the Twins to be traded this summer, per ESPN’s Jayson Stark. However, executives that have spoken to the Twins about trades tell Stark that Minnesota is willing to talk about virtually anyone on their roster. Per one exec to whom Stark spoke, the Twins are telling potential trade partners, “If you’ve got any ideas, throw them out there.” Santana is far from the only trade candidate on the Twins’ roster; Fernando Abad, Eduardo Nunez, Ricky Nolasco and Trevor Plouffe are all free agents at the end of the 2017 season, and Kurt Suzuki is set to hit the open market following the current season. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd has listed several Twins among the game’s top trade candidates over the past few weeks. As for Santana, who tossed a shutout yesterday in Oakland, he’s earning $13.5MM this year and in each of the next two seasons, so he’d be considerably more than a rental piece for an interested club. However, that remaining salary might mean that some interested parties would want the Twins to include some cash in a deal to make the trade more financially palatable.
A few more notes on the trade market…

• The Red Sox have been scouting Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson lately tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports and MLB.com. Per Morosi, Hellickson is one of many options that Boston is considering as it seeks to upgrade the back of its rotation. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said tonight on the conference call to discuss the Aaron Hill trade with the media that the fourth and fifth spots of his rotation are indeed areas of focus, as ESPN Boston’s Scott Lauber writes. Hellickson could indeed fill one of those spots, as he’s delivered a solid 3.92 ERA with 7.9 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 and a 42.4 percent ground-ball rate in 105 2/3 innings. The Phillies can probably get more for Hellickson than they surrendered to acquire him at this point, and as a free agent at season’s end it seems likely that he’ll be wearing a new uniform by the time the non-waiver deadline passes.
• Infielder Yunel Escobar and left-hander Hector Santiago are getting hot at an opportune time if the Angels wish to shop them, writes MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez. However, he also notes that it’s difficult to envision the Halos parting with either player. The Angels have a desperate need for rotation pieces in 2017 after losing Andrew Heaney to Tommy John surgery while Garrett Richards faces the possibility of the same fate. Santiago is controlled through the end of the 2017 season and doesn’t figure to be overly expensive, as he’s earning $5MM this year. Moving Escobar would mean that the Halos need to find a new third baseman for the third time in four years, Gonzalez points out, though he lists the Royals, Mets and Giants as possible suitors for the versatile infielder. Escobar, of course, comes with a questionable clubhouse reputation, but Gonzalez spoke to Santiago about Escobar’s presence in the clubhouse and received a positive review. Santiago admitted that he disliked Escobar when playing against him but enjoys his passion and enthusiasm now that they’re teammates.
• The Royals are continuing to monitor the market for starting pitchers, reports Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. The Royals are moving Chris Young to the bullpen and have seen both Kris Medlen and Mike Minor suffer setbacks in their rehab, leaving a very thin supply of starters from which to choose. Either Dillon Gee or Brian Flynn could get a start this weekend, but Dodd cites a source in stating that the Royals have expressed some interest in the Rays’ available starting pitchers. Tampa Bay starters Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore have each seen their names pop up in trade rumors as of late.

[koz-man]

Last year at the all-star break, Daniel Murphy had 5 HRs for the Mets.

This year, he has 5 HRs AGAINST the Mets.

[koz-man]

2016 home run derby matchups

• (1) Mark Trumbo, Orioles vs. (8) Corey Seager, Dodgers
• (4) Robinson Cano, Mariners vs. (5) Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
• (3) Adam Duvall, Reds vs. (6) Wil Myers, Padres
• (2) Todd Frazier, White Sox vs. (7) Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies

[BigSpoon]

Matt Harvey to have season ending surgery:http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/16...utlet-syndrome

[mr. leisure]

Matt Harvey to have season ending surgery:http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/16...utlet-syndrome

Wow , bad break for the Mets .

[BarkingToad]

Tampa Bay is the worst team in baseball, although Reds are close.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

fellas, Melvin Upton Jr with another big night

this guy might be the comeback player of the year

he has played great defense all year with 16 dingers and 20 steals

last night he went 4-5 with 2 homers, 3 runs and 3 RBIs

[mr. leisure]

Mets injuries keep coming , Cespedes and Syndergaard both out for awhile too .

[koz-man]

David Ortiz home run tracker:

• Season - 21
• Career - 524 This is the fifth season Ortiz, as a Red Sox, has hit at least 21 HRs before the All-Star break.

[koz-man]

*The Chicago White Sox turned their third triple play of the season, the first team to do that since 1979.

*J.A. Happ (TOR): won 6 straight starts; first Blue Jays pitcher with 12 wins before the All-Star break since Roy Halladay in 2006

[El Nino]

Drew Pomeranz with another lights out performance..

7IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 6 Ks

He still trade bait?

[JAKEPEAVY21]

He still trade bait?

I hope not...he is young and quite good already

Him and Myers should both be off limits in my opinion but who knows with the way the organization is run...

Padres have actually surprisingly made a major splash in the international market signing a lot of the top players from Cuba in the past month. I really like what I've been reading and think the farm system is going to bear a lot of fruit in a few years. It's about time they are putting a major emphasis on the farm system because realistically, that's the only way they can compete with the big boys.

[BigSpoon]

Michael Saunders and Brandon Belt are the AL and NL All-Star final vote winners.

[EmpireMaker]

It may end up being a blessing in disguise for the 2016 season for the Mets because Harvey has been horrible this season and they have Wheeler waiting in the wings to come back within the next month, so if Wheeler produces the Mets may be better off.

[Chi_archie]

Michael Saunders and Brandon Belt are the AL and NL All-Star final vote winners.

Marte was robbed

[Andy117]

Marte was robbed

I think Marte is going to replace Cespedes.

[Otters27]

seems like lots of ace pitchers have been getting roughed up

[BigSpoon]

I think Marte is going to replace Cespedes.

Starling Marte and Jay Bruce have been named injury replacements for Cespedes and Fowler.

[Cross]

Stop the bleeding Cubs, this is ridiculous!

[EmpireMaker]

The Nationals’ Trea Turner, whom Baseball America ranks as the sport’s fifth-best prospect, rejoined the club Friday when first baseman Ryan Zimmerman landed on the disabled list with a strained left rib. The middle infielder hasn’t slotted into the Nats’ lineup, though, which is no surprise in light of manager Dusty Baker’s comments on Friday. “Right now, there’s no real place for Trea to take,” Baker said, per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. “This isn’t a tryout camp. This is try to play the best team overall to win the game and win the pennant. Hopefully Trea will be a part of that while he’s here.” Turner has garnered some center field experience at the Triple-A level, though Baker is wary of putting him out there in the majors at this point. “I’m sure in time, he’ll show us all, but right now, he’ll probably remain in the infield unless I have to make a move out there in the outfield,” stated Baker. Between second baseman Daniel Murphy and shortstop Danny Espinosa, the Nats have an outstanding middle infield, so it doesn’t appear Turner will make much of an impact if those two remain healthy. The 23-year-old has batted an excellent .302/.370/.471 with 36 extra-base hits and 25 stolen bases in the minors this season.
More from three other NL cities:

• The Diamondbacks and closer Brad Ziegler might only be amid a separation, not a divorce, after they traded him to Boston on Friday. While breaking the news of the trade to Ziegler, the D-backs informed the soon-to-be 37-year-old that they’d be interested in bringing him back during free agency, reports FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal (on Twitter). General manager Dave Stewart expressed a desire last month to extend Ziegler’s contract, so it’s not surprising that Arizona might want to sign him in a few months. In the meantime, “With no real certainty of whether we’re going to be able to bring him back on a multi-year deal, we just decided we’d be able to get some pretty good prospects for him,” Stewart said regarding the trade (via Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic). Ziegler joined the Diamondbacks in 2011 and ultimately recorded an impressive ERA (2.49), sky-high ground-ball rate (69.3 percent), and 62 saves across 335 2/3 innings with the franchise.
• Newly-minted All-Star Bartolo Colon says he wants to pitch one more year, as MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweets. Whether that will be with the Mets remains to be seen, but the timeless wonder has been a godsend for New York thus far in 2016. Colon, who will turn 44 next May, has put up a 3.28 ERA and 1.55 BB/9 in 98 2/3 innings. The pending free agent is currently earning $7.25MM.
• The Pirates’ recent revival will likely erase the chances of right-handed closer Mark Melancon switching teams prior to the Aug. 1 trade deadline, according to Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The free agent-to-be seemed like a prime trade candidate earlier this summer, but the Bucs have gone 11-3 since sitting a season-worst 34-39 on June 23 and have climbed to within 2.5 games of a Wild Card spot. Melancon is amid yet another stellar season, with a sparkling 1.26 ERA, 8.07 K/9 and 2.02 BB/9 in 35 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old has also converted 27 of 28 save opportunities.

[mr. leisure]

Stop the bleeding Cubs, this is ridiculous!

They need definitely need the all-star break . 1-9 in the last 10 games .

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Starling Marte and Jay Bruce have been named injury replacements for Cespedes and Fowler.

happy to see Marte was added to the squad

my guy, Pomeranz, was also added

[Chi_archie]

Yeah injuries usually work these things out

[koz-man]

Eduardo Rodriguez will be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the first start after the All-Star Break for the Red Sox next Friday night in New York.

[MexicanStallion]

Just a late season reminder with Moncada here.

Yoan Moncada was named the MVP of the Futures Game on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI as the World team throttled the U.S. squad 11-3.

Moncada launched a mammoth two-run homer that started a seven-run uprising in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. The 21-year-old hasn't slowed since his promotion to Double-A Portland, slashing .328/.366/.657 with five homers, 15 RBI and four stolen bases in 16 games. He should see time with the big league club in September.

[mr. leisure]

Yunel Escobar was ejected for drawing on the infield dirt