HR Derby could decide All-Star Game winner
If the next All-Star Game in Major League Baseball goes deep into the night, a slugger may get a chance to decide it by going deep – in a Home Run Derby.
That’s right, say going, going, goodbye to extra innings in the Midsummer Classic. Instead, bring on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper and the big boppers for a winner-take-all blast-off.
Because buried deep in the 182-page memorandum of understanding signed Thursday by MLB and the players’ association is a radical new method of potentially deciding the All-Star Game.
“If the All-Star Game remains tied after nine innings, the game will be decided by a Home Run Derby between the teams, subject to the parties’ agreement on details and format,” reads exhibit 13, titled “Tentative Agreement — All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.”
And hear this, fans: As part of the overall agreement, “the parties agree to discuss further details and logistics of a potential mid-All-Star Game concert.”
Plus, a new flavor to MLB’s international mix — there will be a regularseason game in Paris in 2025.
This year’s All-Star Game is scheduled for Dodger Stadium on July 19, awarded to Los Angeles after the scheduled 2020 was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The All-Star Game has gone to extra innings 13 times since it began in 1933, the last two times 10 innings in both 2017 at Miami and 2018 at Washington. Teams running short on pitchers has become an issue as managers try to get most pitchers in the game by the ninth inning.
The annual Home Run Derby on the night before the All-Star Game has become one of MLB’s popular events and is not mentioned in the document as changing.
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Coronavirus travel: Major League Baseball players who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus won’t be allowed to travel into Canada to face the Toronto Blue Jays and won’t be paid for those games. Canada’s government requires a person must have received a second vaccine dose — or one dose of Johnson & Johnson — at least 14 days prior to entry.
Twins-Rangers trade:
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the starting shortstop for Texas who was supplanted by the blockbuster addition of
Corey Seager, was traded to Minnesota for catcher
Mitch Garver. Texas also sent minor league righthander Ronny Henriquez to Minnesota a day before the mandatory reporting date for players following the end of Major League Baseball’s 99-day lockout.
Dodgers: Los Angeles and Clayton Kershaw agreed to a one-year deal Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, to end Kershaw’s first stint as a free agent. The deal will be official once Kershaw passes a physical. ... Pitcher Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave was extended Friday for a week by Major League Baseball and the players’ association.
Nationals: Washington made its first post-lockout move, agreeing on a oneyear deal with veteran reliever Steve Cishek, two people with knowledge of the situation said Saturday.
Giants: Free agent left-hander Carlos Rodon has agreed to terms on a $44 million, two-year contract with San Francisco, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The 29-yearold Rodon is coming off a career-best season in which he set a high for wins in going 13-5 with a careerlow 2.37 ERA over 24 starts.
Cardinals: St. Louis signed right-hander Drew VerHagen to a two-year contract. VerHagen was a fourth-round pick of the Tigers in 2012 who went 10-10 over parts of six seasons in Detroit. He appeared in 127 games, starting eight of them, and will compete for a spot in the Cardinals bullpen during spring camp.
Cubs: Chicago locked in their manager, agreeing to a three-year contract extension with David Ross that includes a team option for 2025.
Obituary: Odalis Perez, a left-hander who threw the first pitch at Nationals Park and was an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers during a 10-year career in the majors, has died. He was 43. The local professional baseball league confirmed his death Friday. Odalis Perez’s attorney, Walin Batista, told ESPN the pitcher apparently fell off a ladder at his house.