These 6 All-Stars could be on the move at the Deadline
SEATTLE — Last July in Los Angeles, Josh Hader sat inside Dodger Stadium for his fourth All-Star media day, answering questions on his future with regard to the upcoming Trade Deadline.
Two weeks later, he was traded from the Brewers to the Padres.
On Monday, Hader was again on the All-Star Game for a fifth time, and whereas the emblem on his hat was completely different from the one he sported ultimately yr’s Midsummer Classic, the questions remained the identical.
That’s the fact of being a star participant on a group falling wanting expectations, significantly one with an expiring contract. If issues don’t get higher for San Diego between now and the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, Hader could possibly be taking a look at one other midseason transfer.
“It’s nothing I can control,” Hader mentioned. “You can’t get your head wrapped up in what-ifs or whatever may happen. For me, it’s just going out there every day and making sure that I’m ready to pitch. If it happens, it happens; just like last year, there have been rumors pretty much every year since I’ve been in arbitration that it’s a possibility. I can’t change the result or the outcome of where I will be if it’s going to happen, so I feel like it’s wasted energy if you’re even thinking about that.”
Craig Kimbrel has been in Hader’s sneakers, representing the Cubs within the 2021 All-Star Game earlier than being dealt to the crosstown White Sox simply 17 days later. The Cubs hit the break that summer time dealing with a 7 1/2-game deficit within the NL Wild Card race and an eight-game unfold within the NL Central, however when these numbers swelled to double digits in the course of the first two weeks of the second half, Kimbrel and a lot of his star teammates have been traded to contenders across the league.
“It is a tough scenario to be put in sometimes,” Kimbrel mentioned. “As a team, you finish the first half and everyone pretty much still has a shot, especially with the playoffs and how they’re formatted. There are situations where guys know they’re going to be traded. Contract-wise, control-wise, where the team is in the standings — all those things make a lot of sense, so there are times where you kind of see it coming. I think the tougher moments are when as an organization and as a team, you kind of feel like you’re all still in a push to get it done and then it falls apart at the same time. That can be a little tougher.”
This yr’s All-Star groups have a lot of gamers who would possibly discover themselves in an identical state of affairs within the coming weeks, however they’re doing their finest to not permit the rumors and commerce buzz to disrupt the All-Star expertise.
“The only advice I would have them is to enjoy it,” Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo mentioned by a interpreter, pondering again to being in that very same state of affairs a yr in the past. “This is one thing that occurs every year, so simply attempt to get pleasure from each minute of it. Everything else goes to deal with itself.
Here’s a have a look at a half-dozen All-Stars who could possibly be on the transfer by Aug. 1:
Josh Hader, LHP, Padres
Hader has been among the finest relievers within the sport since he debuted in 2017, but 2023 is perhaps his best season but. The lefty completed the primary half with a 1.08 ERA and 21 saves in 35 appearances, holding hitters to a .133 common and a .426 OPS.
The 43-47 Padres have been among the many league’s greatest underachievers this season, and if San Diego — which sits six video games out of a Wild Card spot and eight 1/2 video games again within the NL West — finds itself additional out by the tip of the month, Hader might discover himself carrying one other uniform as he approaches free company this offseason.
Brent Rooker, OF/DH, Athletics
The Athletics completed the primary half with a 25-67 file, leaving them 25 1/2 video games out of the Wild Card race. Rooker is Oakland’s lone All-Star consultant, and whereas the entrance workplace has stocked the farm system with a wealth of younger expertise, it’s troublesome to think about Rooker (who turns 29 in November) becoming in as a part of Oakland’s long-term plan regardless of having four-plus years of membership management.
Rooker was dealt twice in 2022, however a commerce this month can be completely different for him.
“I would be going to a buyer, where in the past, I would have been going to a seller as a part of one of those deals,” he mentioned. “If a team contending for a division or contending for a playoff spot and looking to make a push deep in the postseason comes to get you, anyone would look at that as a compliment.”
Michael Lorenzen, RHP, Tigers
The Tigers’ disappointing first half (39-50) hasn’t erased them from the postseason image due to a middling AL Central, as Detroit entered the break solely 5 1/2 video games out of first place.
“We have guys coming back and the AL Central is still kind of up for grabs,” Lorenzen mentioned. “We’ll see what happens, but I’m thinking we’re going to go for it and get that division. I mean, that’s what you have to think.”
Lorenzen is taking part in on a one-year, $8.5 million contract, so if the Tigers can deliver again a prospect in return for the 31-year-old, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the right-hander — who has a career-low 5.7 stroll share (20 walks in 87 innings) — dealt to a contender for the stretch run.
Díaz has already tallied 45 RBIs this season, posting a strong .763 OPS in 80 video games. Colorado’s No. 4 prospect is 21-year-old Drew Romo, thought-about by many to be the membership’s future behind the plate. That might make Díaz expendable if a contender comes calling for catching assist.
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Cubs
The Cubs stay on the outskirts of the postseason image regardless of a 42-47 file on the break, sitting seven video games behind the Reds within the NL Central and 6 1/2 video games out of the ultimate NL Wild Card spot. But Stroman’s contractual state of affairs — he can decide out of the ultimate yr and $21 million of his contract on the finish of the season — could possibly be a much bigger consider Chicago’s choice.
Stroman is ineligible to obtain a qualifying provide if he turns into a free agent, having accepted a QO from the Mets in 2020, so the Cubs danger dropping him for nothing if he opts out and indicators elsewhere this offseason. If Chicago is unable to comply with an extension with Stroman previous to Aug. 1, he might change into essentially the most outstanding beginning pitcher on the commerce market.
“I don’t think about that stuff at all,” Bednar mentioned. “Whenever it does come up, some of my friends will make jokes about that, but it doesn’t faze me whatsoever.”
The 28-year-old ranks within the high seven percentile in a lot of Statcast classes, together with whiff share, stroll share, anticipated batting common and chase price, serving to him to a minuscule 1.27 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 17 saves in 34 appearances. The Pirates enter the second half eight video games out of the ultimate NL Wild Card spot and eight 1/2 video games behind the Reds within the NL Central, and with three years of membership management remaining, Bednar represents one among Pittsburgh’s finest commerce chips.
