March 28, 2024

Selections are made for 2014 MLB All-Star Game

NEW YORK (AP) — The trade that put Jeff Samardzija on a postseason

contender cost him a chance to pitch in his first All-Star game.

A day after Samardzija was dealt from the Chicago Cubs to Oakland, a big league-high six Athletics were picked Sunday for the game at Target Field in Minnesota on July 15.

That doesn’t include Samardzija, selected as a National League All-Star. Major League Baseball said he is ineligible to play because of the league switch.

The 29-year-old right-hander, who was 2-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts for the Cubs, won his American League debut Sunday when he allowed one run in seven innings for a 4-2 victory over Toronto. He will be introduced with the NL players before the All-Star game; still to be decided is whether he wears a Cubs or A’s uniform — or a generic NL jersey.

Oakland, with the best record in the majors, has its most All-Stars since 1975: left-handers Sean Doolittle and Scott Kazmir; catcher Derek Norris; first baseman Brandon Moss; third baseman Josh Donaldson; and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, playing his 20th and final season, was chosen for his 14th All-Star team and will start for the ninth time. He gets reunited with Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano, his former double-play partner in New York.

“All-Star game was in New York last year. It’s a little bit different,” Jeter said. “I don’t go into it with any expectations. Just trying to enjoy myself and have fun with whoever is here.”

Among the big names bypassed entirely were slugger David Ortiz and closer Koji Uehara from World Series champion Boston, San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, and Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett.

Also elected by fans to start for the AL were Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, Donaldson, and outfielders Jose Bautista of Toronto, Adam Jones of Baltimore and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.

Baltimore’s Matt Wieters, sidelined by season-ending elbow surgery on June 17, was elected to start at catcher and will be replaced by Kansas City’s Salvador Perez.

Orioles bopper Nelson Cruz, tied for the major league home run lead with 27, was voted in by fans at designated hitter after serving a 50-game suspension last year for violating baseball’s drug agreement.

Elected to the NL starting lineup were Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina along with outfielders Carlos Gomez of Milwaukee, Andrew McCutchen of Pittsburgh and Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, a pair of rookies off to superlative starts, were among 26 first-time All-Stars and 24 foreign-born players.

Tanaka and setup man Dellin Betances are the first Yankees rookie pitchers to be picked as All-Stars since Spec Shea in 1947.

Surprise selections included Pittsburgh utilityman Josh Harrison and left- hander Tony Watson, and St. Louis reliever Pat Neshek, who is from Minnesota and began his career with the hometown Twins.

Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez made his fifth All-Star team, his first since 2009.

Bautista, at 5.68 million, received the most votes for the second time in four years. Tulowitzki topped the NL at 5.35 million.

Other players omitted despite strong credentials were Cincinnati pitcher Alfredo Simon, Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager and San Diego closer Huston Street, who had converted 23 consecutive save chances before allowing a tying home run in the ninth Saturday.

Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun and Toronto outfielder Melky Cabrera, who like Cruz served lengthy drug-related suspensions, also were left out.

The candidates in online voting for the final AL spot are all pitchers: Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, Cleveland’s Corey Kluber, Los Angeles’ Garrett Richards, Detroit’s Rick Porcello and Chicago’s Chris Sale.

Vying for the NL spot are Miami third baseman Casey McGehee, Colorado first baseman Justin Morneau, Washington third baseman Anthony Rendon, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Atlanta outfielder Justin Upton.

2014 All-Star Rosters

The Associated Press

Rosters for the MLB All-Star game on Tuesday, July 15 at Target Field, Minneapolis (x- inactive; r-replacement).
AMERICAN LEAGUE
STARTERS

Catcher — x-Matt Wieters, Orioles; y-Salvador Perez, Royals First Base — Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
Second Base — Robinson Cano, Mariners
Third Base — Josh Donaldson, Athletics

Shortstop — Derek Jeter, Yankees
Outfield — Jose Bautista, Blue Jays; Mike Trout, Angels; Adam Jones, Orioles; Designated Hitter — Nelson Cruz, Orioles
RESERVES
Pitchers
Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees
Mark Buehrle, LHP, Blue Jays
Yu Darvish, RHP, Rangers
Sean Doolittle, LHP, Athletics
Felix Hernandez, RHP, Mariners
Greg Holland, RHP, Royals
Scott Kazmir, LHP, Athletics
Jon Lester, LHP, Red Sox
Glen Perkins, LHP, Twins
David Price, LHP, Rays
Max Scherzer, RHP, Tigers
Masahiro Tanaka, RHP, Yankees
Catchers
Derek Norris, Athletics
Kurt Suzuki, Twins
Infielders
Jose Abreu, White Sox
Jose Altuve, Astros
Adrian Beltre, Rangers
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
Brandon Moss, Athletics
Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
Outfielders
Michael Brantley, Indians
Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics
Alex Gordon, Royals
Designated Hitters
Victor Martinez, Tigers
MLB.Com Final Vote Candidates
LHP Dallas Keuchel, Astros

RHP Corey Kluber, Indians RHP Garrett Richards, Angels RHP Rick Porcello, Tigers LHP Chris Sale, White Sox

NATIONAL LEAGUE
STARTERS
Catcher — Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First Base — Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
Second Base — Chase Utley, Phillies
Third Base — Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
Shortstop — Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
Outfield — Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Carlos Gomez, Brewers; Yasiel Puig, Dodgers RESERVES
Pitchers
Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Giants
Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Reds
Johnny Cueto, RHP, Reds
Zack Greinke, RHP, Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers
Craig Kimbrel, RHP, Braves
Pat Neshek, RHP, Cardinals
Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, Brewers
Tyson Ross, RHP, Padres
x-Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs/A's
Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves
Adam Wainwright, RHP, Cardinals
Tony Watson, LHP, Pirates
Jordan Zimmermann, RHP, Nationals
Catchers
Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
Devin Mesoraco, Reds
Infielders
Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
Starlin Castro, Cubs
Todd Frazier, Reds
Freddie Freeman, Braves
Dee Gordon, Dodgers
Daniel Murphy, Mets
Outfielders
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
Josh Harrison, Pirates
Hunter Pence, Giants
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
MLB.Com Final Vote Candidates
3B Casey McGehee, Marlins

1B Justin Morneau, Rockies 3B Anthony Rendon, Nationals 1B Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
OF Justin Upton, Braves