Unsolved MLB mysteries as trade deadline approaches
NY Post
ARLINGTON, Texas — The first half officially closed Tuesday night with the All-Star Game, but with way more than half a season completed.
No team had played fewer than 95 games and, in all, an MLB-record 1,449 games and 59.6 percent of its schedule had been exhausted prior to the Midsummer Classic (thanks to MLB Network research). Yet, even with that much season played, there remains so much mystery about a trade deadline two weeks away, including:
1. Is Mason Miller available? It feels like no player should be more so.
The A’s are unlikely to play a meaningful game until they get to Las Vegas, no earlier than 2028. That is hundreds of appearances from now for a bad team. And the risk of staying healthy for that period for a guy who throws the hardest average fastball in the majors (100.9 mph) and had shoulder and elbow issues over the past two seasons seems red-line high.
Miller has five years of control and is the kind of end-game piece that every contender would see meaningfully upgrading championship odds. Thus, the A’s could theoretically return a haul.
Conversely, as heated as buying teams would be to add Miller’s heat — his 46.7 strikeout percentage is not only first, but second is in the distance: Josh Hader at 40.4 — there must be concern by any acquiring team of giving up that haul and having Miller blow out quickly.
The Rangers’ trade-deadline picture continues to come into focus.
Deebo Samuel is a man of few words on his way out of San Francisco.
MLB’s controversial all-time hits king could have a shot at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
MIAMI — Mitchell Robinson said his minutes limit was “supposed to be about 18” after his encouraging season debut Friday night.
INDIANAPOLIS — So many of the questions directed his way at the NFL Scouting Combine prompted an almost bewildered — and amused and delighted — response from Howard Cross III.
DETROIT — Cade Cunningham broke out of a slump by scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and the Detroit Pistons pulled away to beat the Brooklyn Nets 115-94 on Saturday night.
INDIANAPOLIS — Tyler Warren wears No. 44 because of an old Jet.
Of course this is not 2018, this deadline does not represent a sea change in philosophy resembling that one. But, just as seven years ago, the hierarchy — different general managers, same CEO — is not homing in at making a run at eighth place at the expense of acquiring future assets in exchange for expiring contracts.
TAMPA — It was all but certain even before Giancarlo Stanton left camp last Monday to tend to a personal matter, but now it is official: The Yankees DH will begin the season on the injured list.
Chris Kreider missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury Friday, when the Rangers lost to the Maple Leafs 3-2 in their fourth game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
MEMPHIS — Mitchell Robinson’s long-awaited return was about as promising as the Knicks could’ve envisioned.
The time to string wins together is now, but the Rangers haven’t been able to do that since mid-November.
