Plenty of Jays on all-star radar
Half-dozen Toronto players could very well be chosen for midsummer classic
It’s a pleasant development for the Blue Jays: all-star chatter includes at least three of their starters, in addition to the strong array of all-starquality position players on the roster.
Major League Baseball will unveil the starting position players for both leagues Tuesday, revealing results of fan voting that determine the starters for the midsummer classic next week in San Diego.
It doesn’t appear any Blue Jays will earn an all-star berth via fan vote, but the team still has at least six players who will be part of the conversation among the all-star coaches and player peers who will factor in the naming of the remainder of the roster.
Ultimately, Toronto will be fortunate to have three players named to the American League all-stars, repeating the number the franchise enjoyed in each of the last three seasons.
There is a chance for three, but the number will likely be lower — and for the first time since Ricky Romero in 2011 and Roy Halladay in the early 2000s, Toronto starters are on the all-star radar.
Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, and Aaron Sanchez all have put together excellent seasons so far, and will be under consideration for all-star berths.
Jays manager John Gibbons spoke Monday with Royals manager Ned Yost — who will manage the AL side in San Diego — and Gibbons’ starters definitely came up in the discussion.
“All three (were talked about), and you can’t forget (closer Roberto) Osuna,” Gibbons said prior the JaysRoyals tilt Monday at the Rogers Centre.
Based on reports about fan voting trends, the American League allstars are expected to shape up with Boston and Kansas City players fea- tured prominently in the starting nine. Royals catcher Salvador Perez should get the nod behind the plate, with teammate Eric Hosmer looking strong to be named the starting first baseman.
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts seems a shoe in at his position, while the starting outfield should feature one of Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr., or Mookie Betts.
The rest of the AL team should see Jose Altuve at second base (he was just named AL player of the month for June); Baltimore’s Manny Machado at third; David Ortiz at DH, which has been his domain for the past several seasons; and Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout rounding out the outfield.
Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, who won the fan vote a year ago, is a strong candidate to be voted in by coaches and peers.
Edwin Encarnacion, who has been among the best hitters in the game since the beginning of May, also stands a strong chance to be voted in as a DH behind Ortiz.
But Toronto, if they get a second player on the all-star squad, could place one of their three starters.
“We have some guys who are having good years out there,” Gibbons said.
Toronto has not placed a pitcher on the all-star team since relievers Brett Cecil and Steve Delabar were named to the 2013 team.
The last starter on the squad was Romero in 2011; but outside of Halladay, who was an all-star six times between 2002-09, the Jays have not been known for sending starters to the all-star game.
Jose Bautista has gone to the last six games, and was voted in on four of those occasions.