Elephant Rumblings: Former A’s in running to start All-Star Game

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

Thomas Harrigan at MLB posted an update on Phase 2 of All-Star voting, which will determine the starters for this year’s Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Tuesday, July 11.

It should come as little shock that no current Athletics will be starting this year’s All-Star Game, though either Ryan Noda or Esteury Ruiz should get the nod to be the A’s lone representative. But the All-Star starting lineups could include some very familiar faces from the core of the last contending A’s roster, all of whom have been traded as part of the current “rebuild effort.”

Coming into Tuesday, Marcus Semien (3.1 fWAR) held a commanding lead over Whit Merrifield (1.3 fWAR) to start at second base for the American League. Semien also started the 2021 All-Star Game as a Blue Jay.

Matt Chapman (2.5 fWAR) trails the Rangers’ Josh Jung (1.9 fWAR) to start at third base for the AL. Chapman is a one-time All-Star, but is still looking for his first starting nod.

Jonah Heim (2.7 fWAR) may edge out young phenom Adley Rutschman (1.8 fWAR) to start behind the dish for the AL. Heim was not a particularly high ranking prospect with the A’s, but the Rangers seem to have unlocked the budding catcher’s potential.

Over in the National League, current Braves first baseman Matt Olson (1.9 fWAR) trails former Braves first baseman and future Hall of Famer Freddie Freeman (3.1 fWAR) by a 60-40 margin in Phase 2 voting. Olson entered Tuesday leading the NL in home runs, but Freeman may be in the hunt for a second MVP award. He also reached the 2,000 hit milestone last week.

Former Athletics may start at catcher for both leagues. Sean Murphy (3.1 fWAR) is edging out the Dodgers’ Will Smith (2.8 fWAR) by a 56-44 margin. If Murphy prevails, he will head to his first All-Star appearance as a starter.

It’s a bit sad to think about the abundance of talent that has departed Oakland over the past few years, but it’s also great to see these players that we’ve connected with having continued success and getting due recognition. Final voting results will be announced on Thursday. Good luck, former A’s!

A’s Coverage:

• To: Blackburn, bullpen shut down Bronx Bombers
• McDonald: Several former A’s stars finalists to start in MLB All-Star Game, but who will represent Oakland in Seattle?
• Warren: A’s may set another unwanted MLB record as the roster changes pile up

MLB News & Interest:

• Ghiroli: The umpire on the cusp of a watershed moment for baseball: ‘I think she’s going to do it’ ($)
• Law: MLB All-Star rosters should lean into the spectacle, and here’s who I’d pick ($)
• Franco: Max Scherzer Reportedly Open To Waiving No-Trade Clause
• Sarris and The Athletic: Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah allows 11 runs on 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings of rookie ball ($)
• McDonald: Penn Murfee To Undergo Season-Ending UCL Surgery
• McDonald: Matthew Boyd To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
• McDonald: Mariners Designate Chris Flexen For Assignment
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter:

Ruiz keeping pace.

Not sure what I’m looking at here. But congrats, Smoke!

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