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Shortstop Erick Aybar was taken to a local doctor to have a chicken bone removed from his throat on Thursday. However, he has been cleared to return to the lineup.

Continue for updates.

Aybar Active vs. Phillies

Friday, May 20

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Aybar will play against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.

Snitker Comments on Aybar’s Status

Thursday, May 19

Speaking to reporters, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, interim manager Brian Snitker said Aybar “looked OK when he left, but he wasn’t speaking real well. Let’s just hope everything works out alright.”

Aybar Off to Shaky Start 

The 32-year-old Aybar is hitting .174/.207/.205 in 38 games. According to MLB.com, he has just four extra-base hits in 132 at-bats in the final year of his contract.

The Braves haven’t had many things go right for them in 2016. Their 10-30 record is tied for the worst in Major League Baseball, and they dismissed manager Fredi Gonzalez after his five-plus seasons with the team.

Aybar isn’t helping matters with his performance at the plate so far this season, but his presence in the lineup every day still could benefit the team. If he starts to get hot, the Braves can use him as trade bait this summer to add another prospect to a much-improved farm system.

Atlanta’s front office is looking toward the future, but the 25 players in the dugout are focused on doing the best they can in 2016.

Aybar is a veteran who surely wants a chance to play for a World Series if he can stay on the field.

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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has heard the outside speculation about the use of performance-enhancing drugs and is firing back against the critics who question the integrity of players in the sport. 

Speaking at the MLB owners’ meetings, via Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald, Manfred detailed all that he’s learned about PEDs and the dangers of making unfounded accusations:

I learned a lot about performance enhancing drugs over a very long period of time. It was not a voluntary undertaking, but it was one that was necessary. If I’ve learned anything over that period of time, it is you cannot — cannot — make a judgment as to whether somebody’s using a performance enhancing drug based on changes in performance or physical appearance. It’s simply unfair speculation. People get better. And to speculate it’s because of performance enhancing drugs is literally baseless speculation. There’s one way to know. Did he test positive or did he not?

Manfred went on to say that any kind of speculation about the performance of a player without any tangible evidence to support it is “distasteful” and “inappropriate.”

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless were the most prominent analysts to try questioning an MLB player’s accomplishments when they called out Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta during an episode of First Take last month:

To Arrieta’s credit, he did fire back at Smith on Twitter with a simple response to the baseless allegations being made:

There have been calls from players within MLB about how the drug testing program works. After Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon was suspended 80 games for a PED violation, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander said in April that he wanted to see some changes to the policy, via ESPN.com’s Katie Strang:

The problem is the quality of the stuff guys are taking is better than the quality of our tests. They’re always a step ahead. But I think more [testing] and harsher penalties. And I think that’s a general consensus among players, and I’m sure that’s … I think that’s what everyone wants. MLB needs to address it.

Manfred did address the quality of the program and how MLB is not resting on its laurels when it comes to drug testing:

In terms of the program, we constantly improve that program. One of the things that you can improve is the science gets better. And it is true that the windows of detection on certain substances have been lengthened — windows of detection meaning the periods of time in which you can detect a substance in somebody’s body have been improved, it’s just science getting better. That may be one explanation for what we’re seeing.

The MLB commissioner did note that failed tests are not coming in at substantially high rates, saying “less than one half of one percent” are coming back with a failed result. 

MLB’s drug-testing program is among the most stringent in professional sports. Players are suspended without pay for half of the season when they fail a PED test, and there aren’t marquee names failing tests on a weekly basis that would indicate an overwhelming problem for the sport. 

There’s never going to be a perfect system because drugs are always ahead of testing. New products are being made constantly that medical science can’t detect. 

Players like Verlander have every right to be frustrated upon seeing his fellow players try to gain an edge, but as Manfred said, MLB is always looking at new avenues to ensure the testing is as advanced as it can be. 

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Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander reached the 2,000-strikeout milestone on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. 

Verlander’s historic punchout came on a high fastball against Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario in the fourth inning: 

Verlander’s 2,000th strikeout put him sixth among active starting pitchers and tied him with Andy Benes for 75th on Major League Baseball’s career list. 

Per Anthony Fenech, Verlander also became the second pitcher in Tigers history to record 2,000 strikeouts:

Fenech also took a trip down memory lane to remember Verlander’s first strikeout 11 years ago when he debuted on July 4, 2005:

Fittingly, Verlander’s 2,000th strikeout was also of the swinging variety. 

The 33-year-old Verlander is no longer at the height of his powers, when he was winning the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season. He entered play Wednesday with a 4.71 ERA and eight home runs allowed in 49.2 innings pitched. 

However, one skill that has not yet abandoned Verlander is the ability to miss bats. He had more strikeouts (50) than innings pitched coming into Tuesday’s game. 

It’s been a rough start to 2016 for the Tigers, who are in fourth place in the American League Central. Verlander’s milestone doesn’t turn all of their fortunes around, but it does give the team and their fans a reason to celebrate his reign of dominance.

Stats per Baseball-Reference.com.

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After blowing his fourth save of the season on Tuesday by giving up a walk-off grand slam to the Oakland Athletics‘ Khris Davis, Shawn Tolleson has been removed from the closer’s role with the Texas Rangers.   

Per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, upon being informed of the decision, Tolleson said, “It wasn’t anything that surprised me.” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said the team is “gonna wrap our arms around Tolly and figure out what’s going on,” per Jared Sandler of 105.3 The Fan. 

Per Wilson, the Rangers will go with Sam Dyson as their new closer. The right-hander hasn’t been overpowering this year with 13 strikeouts and six walks in 19 innings, but he’s been steady with a 1.89 ERA. 

Tolleson has been awful so far in 2016. The right-hander has a 9.20 ERA with 23 hits, five home runs allowed, 11 strikeouts and five walks in 14.2 innings. 

The 28-year-old Tolleson was tied for the American League lead with 11 saves at the time of his demotion despite those horrid numbers, which says all anyone needs to know about the validity of saves as a statistic of any value. 

The straw that ultimately broke Tolleson’s back as the Rangers closer was an 8-5 loss against the Athletics on Tuesday in which he allowed two hits and one walk before Davis’ blast to end the game.

Per Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News, Tolleson was upfront about his sequencing during the at-bat against Davis and why he didn’t try to change speeds:

There’s been no decline in Tolleson’s stuff in terms of velocity. All of his pitches have actually ticked up this season, including the fastball at a career-best 93.1 mph, per FanGraphs. He’s just not locating anything and, by his own admission, not trusting his off-speed stuff, allowing hitters to sit on the heater.

Tolleson had been money for the Rangers with a 2.88 ERA the past two seasons and career-high 35 saves in 2015. There’s no reason to think he can’t regain the closer’s job, but with a team that’s good enough to make a playoff run, he’s going to have to work things out in low-pressure situations. 

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With the San Diego Padres already facing another lost season, Matt Kemp‘s future with the franchise is once again becoming a topic of conversation.   

Continue for updates. 

Report: Padres Have Made Kemp Available

Wednesday, May 18

Per USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, the Padres have made Kemp available in potential trade talks for teams that are seeking offensive help in the outfield. 

The Padres acquired Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2014 as part of the team’s plan to spend a lot of money with the hopes of making a return to the playoffs. 

Instead, the Padres struggled from the start, and general manager A.J. Preller decided not to start selling any of his assets at the trade deadline in July with the hopes players like Kemp, Justin Upton, James Shields and Craig Kimbrel would be enough to turn things around. 

Preller’s plan failed, as the Padres finished 74-88 last season and wound up dealing Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox and lost Upton to the Detroit Tigers in free agency. 

The Padres have attempted to move Kemp before with no success. Baseball Essential’s Robert Murray reported prior to spring training they tried to trade him to the Oakland Athletics, but the A’s were “not yet willing to pull the trigger.”

It’s hard to blame the A’s—or any team, for that matter—for not adding Kemp. He’s 31 years old, making $21.5 million in each of the next three years after 2016, per Spotrac, and is hitting .250/.264/.500 in 39 games this season. 

Kemp’s power certainly has value, but he’s being paid like a superstar and hasn’t played up to that level since 2014. Unless the Padres are going to kick in a lot of money to make something happen, it will be hard for them to find a team that is willing to pull the trigger on a deal. 

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David Wright’s injury woes are back, as the New York Mets third baseman is dealing with a back injury that forced him to miss Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals. However, he’s ready to return to the field.  

Continue for updates. 

Wright Active vs. Nationals

Wednesday, May 18

ESPN’s Adam Rubin reported Wright will play at third base and bat third in Wednesday’s game against Washington. 

Wright Remains Productive Offensive Option for Mets 

Wright got off to a solid start in 2015, but after eight games, he was shut down with a hamstring injury. He was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis after experiencing back pain, further delaying his return to the lineup. 

After returning on Aug. 24, Wright did put together a strong finish. The 32-year-old hit .289/.379/.434 in helping lead the Mets to their first division title and playoff appearance since 2006. 

However, the long-term effects of spinal stenosis have the Mets being cautious with Wright. General manager Sandy Alderson told the New York Post‘s Steve Serby (h/t New Jersey Advance Media’s Maria Guardado) in February the team was hopeful Wright could play in 130 games this season, automatically assuming he would need 32 games off.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten off to a slow start this season, so an injury to Adrian Gonzalez‘s back is not what their lineup needed to see. The first baseman suffered the injury on Monday, and it’s unclear when he’ll return to the field. 

Continue for updates. 

Gonzalez Out vs. Angels

Tuesday, May 17

The Dodgers announced Gonzalez won’t play Tuesday against their Los Angeles counterparts. 

Reliable Gonzalez Crucial to Dodgers Offense 

Gonzalez is one of Major League Baseball’s most durable players, appearing in at least 156 games every season since 2006. He’s also one of the Dodgers’ most valuable offensive weapons, leading the team in homers and RBI each of the last three years. 

The Dodgers’ All-Star first baseman was banged up down the stretch last season, having been taken out of the lineup during a series against the Colorado Rockies due to back problems.

It was a lingering problem that’s altered Gonzalez’s performance in the second half of 2015, as his slugging percentage dropped nearly 100 points in the second half. That drop in power has continued into this season, with the former All-Star slugging .408 percent coming into Monday, but he’s still hitting for average and getting on base. 

The Dodgers don’t have a deep lineup around Gonzalez, though Chase Utley has been surprisingly strong so far and rookie Corey Seager is slowly coming into his own. 

The Dodgers are facing stiff competition in the National League West, as San Francisco and Arizona made big improvements in the offseason, so losing a hitter as consistent and reliable as Gonzalez alters the division’s dynamic.

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A strong start to the 2016 season has bought Mike Rizzo extra job security, as the Washington Nationals exercised their general manager’s contract option Saturday, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

Per Ladson, Rizzo’s option, which will keep him with the Nationals through 2018, had to be picked up by June 15.

Nationals managing principal owner Ted Lerner expressed his enthusiasm for Rizzo’s work during his tenure with the franchise, per Ladson: “He and the baseball operations team have worked tirelessly to help build this organization into one of Major League Baseball’s elite clubs. We are fortunate to have him.”

Rizzo expressed his gratitude for the chance to continue working for the franchise he’s been with since 2006. 

“I am honored by the Lerner family’s continued faith and confidence in me and am thrilled to be remaining with the Washington Nationals organization,” he said. “While I am proud of the work we have accomplished, we still must achieve the ultimate goal of bringing a World Series championship back to Washington.”

The Nationals hired Rizzo as their general manager in 2009 after he had served as an assistant general manager under Jim Bowden for two seasons.

Under Rizzo’s leadership, the Nationals have become one of the premier franchises in Major League Baseball. They have won two National League East titles since 2012 and haven’t finished under .500 since 2011. 

Some of the key deals in the Rizzo era include acquiring Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland Athletics, signing Max Scherzer as a free agent and getting Stephen Strasburg—a Scott Boras client—to sign a long-term extension before hitting free agency. 

Not all of Rizzo’s moves have paid off—Jayson Werth is still under contract through 2017—but he’s put the franchise in position to compete for a playoff spot each year. He’s led the turnaround in Washington and has earned the right to see it through to what everyone with the team hopes will be a World Series title.

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The Kansas City Royals‘ struggling rotation has been hit with a new problem, as right-hander Kris Medlen has been placed on the disabled list with a shoulder problem.

Continue for updates. 

Medlen to 15-Day DL

Thursday, May 12

Per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, Medlen’s official diagnosis is rotator cuff inflammation in his right shoulder. 

Medlen told reporters he’ll undergo an MRI on Friday and said the soreness surfaced near the end of his start on May 10. 

Morosi also reported the Royals placed Chris Young on the disabled list. That leaves manager Ned Yost with two holes to fill heading into a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. 

Injury-Plagued Medlen Struggling to Find Rhythm for Royals 

Medlen has been struggling his way through six starts so far in 2016. The 30-year-old has a 7.77 ERA with 30 hits allowed, 20 walks and 18 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. Kansas City starters enter play Thursday with the eighth-worst ERA in Major League Baseball at 4.73, per ESPN.com. 

Injuries have plagued Medlen throughout his career. He has had Tommy John surgery twice (2010, 2014) and has only made 30 starts in a season once in his career. 

Given Medlen’s struggles so far in 2016, his time in the rotation seemed limited. The Royals have struggled to a 16-17 start after last year’s World Series win. Dillon Gee can slide into the rotation after pitching seven games in relief. 

There is plenty of time left in the season for the Royals to turn things around, but there is only so far a team can go with a rotation that cannot hand those dominant relievers a lead. Medlen’s poor performance and propensity to get hurt could force Yost to put him in the bullpen whenever he returns. 

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Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout has heard the speculation that his team may need to trade him, but he’s not buying it.

Continue for updates. 

Trout Not Buying Trade Speculation

Thursday, May 12

Speaking to MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez, Trout explained his reaction to any talk of a trade: “I just laugh about it. I love where I’m at. I love Anaheim, the stadium, the organization and obviously the teammates. Teams go through injuries. That’s the way it is.”

It’s worth noting the Angels have never said they are thinking about dealing Trout. Speculation arose last week when some analysts, like FanGraphs’ Dave Cameron, broached the topic in light of the injury to Los Angeles ace Garrett Richards:

Trading Mike Trout would not only bring back an incredible return in young talent — imagine the package the Dodgers could put together — but would also allow the team to admit that it’s time to pivot, focusing on loading up with as many young players as possible, spending big on international free agency and the draft instead of throwing $15 to $20 million at another pitcher at the end of his career who might not be good enough to help anyway.

In theory, the Angels would have valid reasons to consider trading Trout. Injuries have hurt the team already this season.

Richards likely needs Tommy John surgery, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. Andrew Heaney is on the 60-day disabled list, C.J. Wilson hasn’t pitched this season with a shoulder injury and Andrelton Simmons is expected to miss two months after undergoing thumb surgery.

They are in an awful position with horrible contracts—Albert Pujols is owed $165 million from 2016 to 2021, per Spotrac—and no farm system to help out. ESPN.com’s Keith Law wrote the Angels had “by far the worst system I’ve ever seen” in the eight years he has been ranking minor league talent.

All of those factors paint a bleak picture of what the future looks like in Los Angeles. Trout is the one trump card the Angels have. He’s 24 years old, signed through 2020 and should be able to hold his MVP-level performance for the duration of his contract.

Trout is the kind of player every franchise wants to build around, but if there is no one else to help him, his skills are being wasted on a team going nowhere.

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