Verlander, Cole headline list of Astros on All-MLB team
SAN DIEGO — Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole were named first-team starting pitchers on Major League Baseball’s inaugural All-MLB team on Tuesday.
Six Astros were honored in all — the most of any team. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, second baseman Jose Altuve, third baseman Alex Bregman and starter Zack Greinke were all second-teamers. The teams were composed of five starting pitchers, two relievers and one player at each position.
“I’m really happy, and it feels really good, especially since it’s the inaugural event,” Alvarez said through an interpreter. “I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Verlander edged Cole for the American League Cy Young Award after the duo authored one of the most memorable seasons in Astros history.
Both men struck out 300 batters and won 20 games — the first pair of teammates to accomplish that since Arizona’s Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002. Cole led the major leagues with 326 strikeouts.
Alvarez, the 22-year-old phenom who was a unanimous pick for AL Rookie of the Year, was beaten out for first-team All-MLB honors by Twins slugger Nelson Cruz.
Others named to the All-MLB first team were starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals, Mets starter Jacob deGrom, relievers Kirby Yates of the Padres and Josh Hader of the Brewers, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, and outfielders Mike Trout of the Angels, Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers and Christian Yelich of the Brewers.
Giants acquire Angels’ Cozart
The San Francisco Giants
bolstered their infield by acquiring Zack Cozart and prospect Will Wilson from the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named or cash.
Cozart, if healthy after missing significant time in 2019 with shoulder and neck injuries, can play second or provide versatility behind third baseman Evan Longoria.
Wilson was the Angels’ first-round draft pick this year at No. 15 overall. The middle infielder batted .275 in rookie ball.
San Francisco also announced it signed righthander Kevin Gausman to a $9 million, one-year contract. One of the top priorities for president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was finding a starting pitcher during this week’s winter meetings. The team had planned to speak with lefthander Madison Bumgarner, but there were few signs that a reunion was imminent.
Gausman can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, $250,000 each for 18, 22, 26 and 30 starts.
Omaha will host amateur draft
MLB plans to hold its amateur draft in Omaha, Neb., ahead of the College World Series, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The draft will be held June 10-12, and the College World Series is slated to start June 13. The decision was first reported by the website d1baseball.com.
Baseball’s draft was long held by conference call at the commissioner’s office in New York and draws far less attention than the NFL and NBA drafts. The baseball draft was moved to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for 2007 and 2008. Since 2009, the first round has been held at MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J.
Players who are residents of the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico are subject to the baseball draft.