Nashville Stars (Relocation) | OOTP 21

[drummerJ99 26]

NASHVILLE, TN --- It was announced today that Music City Baseball has bought the Tampa Bay Rays. For the start of the 2020 season they will be moving to Nashville to play at the newly finished Music City Field as the rebranded Nashville Stars. With the move to Nashville, the AAA Nashville Sounds will be moving to Durham to become the Durham Bulls (the former Tampa Bay AAA affiliate). Nashville will add a AAA affiliate in Lexington Kentucky.

They unveiled their logos and jerseys today for both teams today.

Main Logo

Secondary Logo

Jerseys

And their AAA affiliate will based in Lexington Kentucky as the Kentucky Bootleggers.

Main Logo

Alternate Logo

Jerseys

[drummerJ99 26]

*DH will now be used league wide.
*26 man rosters

Other MLB News, Oakland Athletics get their new ballpark for start of 2020 Season.

The Ballpark with be named Pandora Park at Howard Terminal. It has a seating capacity of 41,547.

[drummerJ99 26]

Opening Day Nashville Stars

Opening Day AAA Kentucky Bootleggers

Opening Day AA Montgomery Biscuits

 

Edited November 19, 2020 by drummerJ99

[drummerJ99 26]

We now skip forward to the end of April where I will provide updates for each series.

The Nashville Stars continue their 16 games straight. This series included 3 games home stand against the Cleveland Indians (15-15). The Nashville Stars would get outscored 18-7 across the 3 games.

LOSS TO INDIANS EXTENDS NASHVILLE LOSING STREAK

Spirited fans greeted the Nashville Stars for their clash with the Cleveland Indians. Indians starter Zach Plesac pitched his team past the Nashville Stars, 6-2. Plesac, the winner, moves to 3-1. He threw 7.2 innings of 4-hit ball, while fanning 6 and giving up no walks.

Domingo Santana helped out the Cleveland cause in the top of the third inning with a 2-run double. For the game, the right fielder went 2 for 5 with a double. He drove in 4 runs.

“If you pitch well, you give yourself some opportunities,” said Cleveland manager Terry Francona.

The Stars drop to 12-18. Brendan McKay pitched 6 innings for the Stars and picked up the loss allowing 2 runs on 7 hits. C Michael Perez led the bats for the Stars going 2 for 4 with 1K and a run.

---

INDIANS DEAL STARS 5-2 LOSS

Domingo Santana was a vital contributor to the 5-2 Cleveland victory over Nashville. The Indians left fielder went 2-4 with a home run. He scored 2 times and drove in 2. Cleveland starter Shane Bieber was credited with the win after throwing 102 pitches over 6 innings. His record now stands at 2-3. The loss has the Stars at 12-19.

The Indians took a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Facing Nashville hurler Yonny Chirinos with one out, Santana hit a 2-run home run.

“It was a solid team effort,” said Santana after the game.

---

CLEVELAND HANDS NASHVILLE 7-3 DEFEAT

The Cleveland Indians topped the Nashville Stars, 7-3, in American League action at Music City Field. The game was highlighted by the performance of Cleveland pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The victory gives Cleveland a record of 18-15.

In the top of the third, first baseman Carlos Santana hit a 2-run home run to left. The home run, which was hit off of Blake Snell, gave Cleveland a 4-1 lead. “Nice to tuck this win away,” said Santana.

The Stars were behind the 8 ball from the 1st inning when the Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Nashville Stars starter Blake Snell only lasted 2.2 innings before he was pulled. He would give up 9 hits, 5 runs and 2 home runs across 64 pitches in those 2.2 innings. Snell moves to 1-4 on the season. This makes back to back games were Snell lasted 4.2 innings or less.

With the loss the Stars have lost 8 straight.

---

04/26/2020-

Adrian Morejon

Morejon Out of Commission 4 Months: A blow for Adrian Morejon today — team doctors were able to determine the full extent of his recent injury. He will miss 4 months with a torn back muscle. Morejon suffered the injury on 04/26/2020. The team will likely place Morejon on the injured list today.

 

04/30/2020-

Jeff McNeil

McNeil and Stumpf Suspended 5 Games: Today the league office handed out 5-game suspensions to Jeff McNeil of the Mets and Daniel Stumpf of the Marlins for their roles in a benches-clearing skirmish at Citi Field yesterday.

The league commissioner said in the statement to both organizations, “This league does not condone fighting and aggressive conduct on the field, thus we had to take action to discourage this behavior in the future.”

So far this year McNeil is batting .310 with 2 home runs, 28 RBIs and 14 runs scored.

This year Stumpf has pitched 7 innings over 6 relief appearances, picking up no saves and held opponents to a .259 average. Stumpf has a 1-1 record with a 5.14 ERA and 5 strikeouts.

[drummerJ99 26]

Today the Nashville Stars wrap up a 4 game series vs the AL West leading Oakland Athletics (18-14). This series starts a 6 game road trip, after the 4 game series with the A’s the Stars head to Chicago to take on the White Sox. This series wraps up a stretch of 17 games straight. The Stars will have a off day before their series with the Sox.

BASSITT NOW 3-3 AFTER SUBDUING STARS

The 2020 season is going from bad to worse for Nashville. Oakland Athletics starter Chris Bassitt turned in an exceptional performance against the Nashville Stars at Pandora Park at Howard Terminal, resulting in a Oakland win, 9-2. Nashville’s current losing streak has reached 9 games.

Bassitt delivered a quality start for Oakland. The 6′ 5″ right-hander allowed no earned runs on 2 hits over 7 innings of work. “The key at this level is throwing strike one,” said Bassitt. “Successful pitchers do it.” Michael Brosseau lead the bats for the Stars, going 2 for 3 with 1 BB. C Mike Zunino’s horrendous season continues as he’d go 0-3 with a strikeout. He’s batting .170 this season.

The starting pitching woes for the Stars continue as starter Tyler Glasnow took the loss. Lasting only 3.2 innings while allowing 6 runs on 6 hits with 1 HR and a ERA of 6.25.

---

FADING STARS LOSE 10TH STRAIGHT

Oakland starter Frankie Montas pitched well against the Nashville Stars at Pandora Park at Howard Terminal. The right-hander led his team to a win, 2-1. The current losing streak for Nashville has reached 10 games.

The game came to a dramatic end. In the bottom of the ninth, with Oakland trailing 1-0, Stephen Piscotty hit a fastball from Nick Anderson for a 2-run home run, giving the Athletics the walk-off win. “This place was jumping at the end,” Piscotty said.

If there is a bright side for the Stars, it’s that SP Ryan Yarbrough pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk with 8 strikeouts. Diego Castillo would pitch one inning and get the hold. Nick Anderson would get the blown save and take the loss pitching just .2 of a inning, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.

Catcher Michael Perez would go 0 for 2 and after the game was demoted to the Kentucky Bootleggers (AAA). The Stars would promote 32 year old Chris Herrmann to take his place. Herrmann is batting .256/.341/.333 in 12 games for Kentucky.

---

DOMINANT PERFORMANCE BY PUK IN OAKLAND WIN

Oakland picked up a win at Pandora Park at Howard Terminal, toppling the Nashville Stars, 4-1. Pitcher A.J. Puk was one of the reasons the Athletics triumphed. The Athletics have now won 4 straight. Puk, now 3-0, scattered no hits over 7.1 innings for the Athletics. “I just trusted my stuff,” said Puk.

Brendan McKay would have a decent showing for the Stars, as he’d get the start. He pitched 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits with 2BB and 5K’s. Unforutnely for him the offense could only muster the one run, so McKay takes the loss and moves to 3-4 on the season.

There are a ton of 0’s in the box score for the Stars. The only player to get a hit was DH Yoshitomo Tsutsugo. The Stars have lost 11 straight.

---

8-1 LOSS DEEPENS NASHVILLE FUNK

The first-place Oakland Athletics swept the series with the Nashville Stars in front of a spirited crowd. Oakland rode a good effort from starter Jesus Luzardo to beat the Nashville Stars at Pandora Park at Howard Terminal. The final score was 8-1. Nashville is still trying to get off the schneid, having lost 12 in a row.

Tony Kemp dealt the Stars a blow in the bottom of the second. Batting with runners on 2nd and 3rd and Oakland trailing 1-0, Kemp hit a 2-1 slider for a 2-run single. In postgame comments to the Oakland Citizen, Kemp said, “If the effort is there, the wins will come.”

Yonny Chirinos would pitch 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits, while throwing 99 pitches. Chirinos falls to 0-3 on the season. The Nashville bats would only must 3 hits and striked out 7 times. RF Hunter Renfroe would get the lone RBI. Renfroe is batting a measly .173 on the season. The Stars now have a much needed off day before facing the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox (19-15).

---

05/1/2020-

Stephen Strasburg

Strasburg Sidelined, Listed DTD by Washington: Nationals star starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg suffered a mild hamstring strain during yesterday’s game against the Reds at Nationals Park. He sustained the injury while throwing a pitch. Washington lists Strasburg as day-to-day, noting he could miss about one week.

To date this season, Strasburg has registered 7 starts, 0-3 won-lost mark, 4.30 ERA, 29.1 IP, 31 strikeouts and 10 walks. Opposing teams have hit .297 against him.

05/3/2020-

Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw Receives Injury Update: The Los Angeles Dodgers have made it official: Clayton Kershaw is headed to the injured list. The 32-year-old starting pitcher has been out since 05/01/2020 with radial nerve compression. He is expected to miss 4 months.

To date Kershaw is 2-2 in 7 starts with a 3.38 ERA and has 43 strikeouts in 45.1 innings.

[drummerJ99 26]

After a off day, the slumping Nashville Stars host a 3 game series with the Chicago White Sox.

WHITE SOX TOP NASHVILLE, 4-3

The Chicago White Sox dealt the Nashville Stars a 4-3 loss at Guaranteed Rate Field. Nomar Mazara was the star on offense. He went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs. Chicago has now won 6 in a row. Mazara delivered in the bottom of the tenth inning for Chicago. With the game tied and the bases empty, the right fielder hit a solo home run to left-center.

Mazara attributed the win to “energy and focus on the part of everyone.”

Stars starter Blake Snell lasted 6+ innings for the first time in his last 4 starts. He would throw 90 pitches over 6.1 innings, while walking 2 with 2K’s and allowing 3 runs on 4 hits. In his 1st game of the season since being called up from AAA Kentucky, first baseman Nate Lowe went 2 for 4 with 1 run and 1 walk.

---

The 2nd game of the Stars and White Sox series was rained out Wendesday, so the teams played a double header on Thursday.

CHICAGO HOT STREAK CONTINUES WITH 4-1 WIN

The Chicago White Sox extended their winning streak.

Chicago picked up a win at Guaranteed Rate Field, bumping off the Nashville Stars, 4-1. Pitcher Dylan Cease was a major reason the White Sox emerged victorious. Cease got the win, improving to 1-2. He allowed 5 hits and walked 0 over 6 innings. Cease allowed no runs.

The White Sox picked up the win with a combination of good hitting and good pitching. Cease called the win “a lesson in teamwork.” The first-place White Sox have won 7 straight.

26 year old starter Tyler Glasnow picked up the loss, pitching 6.1 innings. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. The Sox would get out to a early 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. They’d add another in the 4th inning when Jose Abreau knocked a solo shot with 2 outs. Yasmani Grandal would add another with a solo shot in the 6th to give the Sox a 4-0 lead. 2nd baseman Joey Wendle would get a RBI double in the bottom of the 8th to put the only run on the board for Nashville. The loss is Nashville’s 14th straight.

---

STARS WIN, KIERMAIER 4-5

The Stars finally get a win. Getting offensive support from Kevin Kiermaier, the Nashville Stars topped the Chicago White Sox, 9-5. Kiermaier was 4 for 5 with a home run, a double, and 2 singles, while scoring 4 times and driving in 2 for the Stars. Nick Anderson recorded his 5th save for Nashville. The win puts Nashville at 13-26.

The Stars got an important contribution from second baseman Joey Wendle, who in the top of the third punched a first pitch curveball into right for a 3-run home run. It was his 4th home run of the season and put the Stars ahead, 4-1.

“It’s a long season,” said Wendle. “We’ll keep working to improve.”

---

05/5/2020-
MLB News: Draft Pool Revealed: With the rookie draft only weeks away, clubs are huddled in their conference rooms, mapping out scouting strategies with their eye toward the future. These sabermetrical speculators will be traipsing across the fruited plain, hunting for the ideal find, trying to decipher the will, drive and pure passion on the unknown youthful faces before them. Some will rely on tried-and-true baseball knowledge, others psychology. And others will live by luck alone. Though their final assessments will be made and hashed over many times before draft day, the repercussions of draft day, good or bad, will endure long after the dust has settled.

At any rate, teams now have thirty days to scout the draft pool prior to the draft. The Transactions page also gets a new section dedicated to the pool.

The early favorites to be high picks are the following:

1. Austin Martin, 21 year-old SS out of college.
2. Jordan Walker, 17 year-old 3B out of high-school.
3. Nick Gonzales, 20 year-old 2B out of college.
4. Spencer Torkelson, 20 year-old LF out of college.
5. Emerson Hancock, 20 year-old RHP out of college.
6. Asa Lacy, 20 year-old LHP out of college.
7. Austin Hendrick, 18 year-old RF out of high-school.
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, 18 year-old CF out of high-school.
9. Robert Hassell III, 18 year-old RF out of high-school.
10. Ed Howard, 18 year-old SS out of high-school.

Jurickson
Profar

Setback for San Diego and Jurickson Profar: San Diego Padres second baseman Jurickson Profar informed reporters that he will be missing additional time because of a setback in his recovery from a hamstring strain. “It’s a bit frustrating, sure,” Profar admitted. “I want to be out on the field. At the same time, I don’t want to make things worse and miss even more time because I’m pushing it too hard.” Padres doctors told BNN Profar would not return for 3 weeks.

So far this season Profar is batting .357 with no home runs.

Miami Trades Cervelli for Houston’s James: The Marlins have reached a deal with Houston, sending 34-year-old C Francisco Cervelli to the Astros in exchange for 27-year-old RHP Josh James. Reports had been hinting at a deal in recent days, but weren’t confirmed until this afternoon.

This year Cervelli has batted at a .313 pace with 10 hits, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and scored 5 times.

James has made 7 starts, tossed 44.2 innings, struck out 49 batters and walked 17. His record is 1-2 with a 5.44 ERA and he has limited other teams to a .249 batting average.

Lucas
Giolito

05/6/2020-
Giolito Learns More about Injury: The Chicago White Sox have made it official: Lucas Giolito is headed to the injured list. The 25-year-old starting pitcher has been out since 05/02/2020 with a torn meniscus. He is expected to miss 4 months.

Checking out his stats for the season, Giolito has notched 1 win and 1 loss in 5 starts, 3.38 ERA and struck out 35 batters in 24 innings.

05/7/2020-
Bad Boy Brawlers Suspended 3 Games: Nomar Mazara of Chicago and Diego Castillo of Nashville have been sanctioned by the league office for causing the ruckus at Guaranteed Rate Field yesterday. Both players have been given 3-game suspensions for instigating the fight and subsequent free-for-all.

So far this season Mazara is hitting .350 with 14 home runs, 37 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He has 50 hits in 143 at-bats and a .400 OBP.

This year Castillo has collected no saves in 20 relief appearances. He has also compiled a 1-1 won-lost mark with a 5.40 ERA and fanned 30 batters in 18.1 innings. Opponents are hitting him at a .232 clip in 2020.

05/8/2020-
Recovery Slow For Nationals Stephen Strasburg: Stephen Strasburg’s return to the Washington Nationals has been delayed. The 31-year-old starting pitcher has been in treatment for a mild hamstring strain and was responding well until he suffered sharp pains during a light workout. Upon examination by team doctors they reported that there had been further damage and Strasburg will not be back as originally diagnosed. He will now be out at least 5 days.

In 7 starts this season Strasburg has fashioned a 0-3 record and a 4.30 ERA.

[RHH91 2]

This is great!

[drummerJ99 26]

The Nashville Stars and their one game winning streak start a 3 game series vs the Texas Rangers 18-19 at home.

Rangers Suffer 6-2 Loss to Stars

Nashville Stars starter Brendan McKay was in a groove as he led his team to a win over the Texas Rangers, 6-2. McKay, now 4-4, was the winner. In 6.1 innings, he gave up 7 hits, while striking out 6, walking 1, and allowing 1 run. The Stars raised their record to 14-26.

Hunter Renfroe had a critical at-bat with two out in the bottom of the sixth for Nashville. He came through with a solo home run to put Nashville in front, 3-1.

“We cashed in when we had the chance,” said Nashville manager Kevin Cash.

Catcher Mike Zunino went 3 for 4 today while scoring 2 runs and a double in the 2nd inning. CF Manual Margot got his 1st stolen base of the season. RF Hunter Renfroe went 1 for 4 on the day, wit his only hit being the aforementioned solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Danny Santana led the Rangers, going 3 for 4 with a double in the 1st inning. Mike Minor took the loss for the Rangers, falling to 4-2 on the season. He pitched 6.2 innings, giving up 6 earned runs on 8 hits.

---

Stars Shut Out Rangers, 4-0

The Nashville Stars went home winners at Music City Field, thanks in large part to starter Yonny Chirinos. Chirinos stifled the Texas Rangers, enabling Nashville to grab the 4-0 win. In 8 innings, Chirinos surrendered 7 hits, while striking out 7 and walking 1. He allowed no runs. Texas, at 18-21, has lost 4 straight.

Joey Wendle had a critical at-bat with two out in the bottom of the sixth for Nashville. He came through with a 2-run single to put Nashville in front, 3-0.

“We’ll kick back tonight, then get set for the next one,” Chirinos said.

SS Willy Adames led the Stars on offense, going 3 for 4 with a RBI. He’s batting .245/.301/.436/.737 this season with 7HR and 25RBI. Chirinos picked up his 1st win of the season, he now holds a 1-3 record. He pitched 8 innings while throwing 102 pitches.

---

Stars Win, 5-1, Extend Streak to 4 Games

It’s officially a win streak for the Nashville Stars. Nashville Stars starter Blake Snell was in a rhythm all game. He led his team to a win over the Texas Rangers, 5-1. Texas has now lost 5 in a row.

Nate Lowe chipped in for Nashville with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the first. For the game, the first baseman had 2 hits in 4 at-bats with 1 home run, 1 single, 1 run scored, and 3 runs batted in. “We’ll enjoy this win,” said Snell. “But there’s more we hope to accomplish.” Blake Snell picked up his 2nd win of the season. Snell gave up 1 earned run on his 97 pitches thrown across 5.1 innings. He struck out 12 while giving up 2 walks.

Rangers starter Core Kluber had his 2nd back to back horrendous outing. Last game he only lasted 3.2 innings while giving up 5 runs on 10 hits. Today he only lasted 1.1 innings while throwing 47 pitches. He was credited with 5 runs on 4 hits with 2 home runs. CF Danny Santana led the offensive charge for the Rangers, going 2 for 3 with a run.

---

05/8/2020-

Stephen
Strasburg

Recovery Slow For Nationals Stephen Strasburg: Stephen Strasburg’s return to the Washington Nationals has been delayed. The 31-year-old starting pitcher has been in treatment for a mild hamstring strain and was responding well until he suffered sharp pains during a light workout. Upon examination by team doctors they reported that there had been further damage and Strasburg will not be back as originally diagnosed. He will now be out at least 5 days.

In 7 starts this season Strasburg has fashioned a 0-3 record and a 4.30 ERA.

[drummerJ99 26]

The Nashville Stars start a 4 game series with the AL East leading New York Yankees (25-14).

Stars Sneak Past Yankees, 5-4

The Nashville Stars faced a tough opponent in New York pitcher Gerrit Cole, but did just enough to pull out the victory at Music City Field by a final score of 5-4. Cole went 7.1 innings and allowed 1 run. Andrew Kittredge picked up the win in relief, improving his record to 2-0. Zack Britton was tagged with the loss. The 4th-place Stars have won 5 straight games.

Willy Adames was the walk-off hero for Nashville. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Stars shortstop hit a dramatic run-scoring single to send the teams home. The home run was his only hit of the game but he made it count.LF Austin Meadows went 2 for 5 with a double in the 9th inning.

Adames expressed little emotion after the game. “Every game we win now,” he said, “is one less win we’ll need to get in the end.” RP Andrew Kittredge picked up the win, pitching 1.2 innings. RP Zack Britton took the loss for the Yankees.

---

Stars Top Yankees 1-0 Behind Glasnow, 6th straight win for stars

The Nashville Stars did just enough to secure a victory over the New York Yankees, 1-0, at Music City Field. Nobody did more than pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Nick Anderson was called on to finish, recording his 7th save. Nashville has now reeled off 6 straight wins.

Glasnow, who dominated for Nashville, earned the victory to move to 2-4. He was in control the whole game, scattering 2 hits over 7 innings, while striking out 9. New York batters could never bunch up enough hits to produce a rally. “I had a good game plan,” said Glasnow. “I made my pitches.” His manager concurred. “It was all there,” Kevin Cash said, “the velocity, the sharpness of his pitches.”

The Stars scattered 9 hits throughout the game, being lead by catcher Mike Zunino who went 3 for 3 with a strikeout. LF Austin Meadows would pick up his 8th stolen base of the season, while both 3B Yandy Diaz and RF Hunter Renfroe were caught stealing.

---

Stanton Goes on Rampage, Stars Get Blown Out 14-2

Giancarlo Stanton did more than his part as the New York Yankees topped the Nashville Stars today at Music City Field. The Yankees left fielder pounded out 5 hits to pace his team to a 14-2 thumping of the Stars. Giancarlo Stanton struck out in the 2nd, singled in the 4th, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 7th, hit a three-run home run off Jose Alvarado in the 8th and hit an RBI single in the 9th. This year Stanton has hit at a .286 pace and produced 41 RBIs, 16 home runs and scored 32 runs.

CF Kevin Kiermaier led the Stars on offense, going 1 for 4 but did have 2 RBI’s on that single hit. SP Ryan Yarbrough lasted 4.1 innings, throwing 76 pitches and giving up 6 runs on 7 hits. He took the loss and fell to 2-4. SP Masahiro Tanaka would pitch 8.1 innings for the Yankees and pick up the win. Giving up 6 hits and 2 runs on his 101 pitches thrown.

---

Yankees Score 2-1 Win Over Nashville

The New York Yankees got a good effort from starter James Paxton in defeating the Nashville Stars at Music City Field. The final score was 2-1. Paxton, the winner, moves to 1-0. He threw 7 innings of 4-hit ball, while fanning 9 and giving up no walks. Aroldis Chapman collected his 9th save.

It could have been a different outcome for New York, had it not been for Gleyber Torres, the two-time All-Star . Torres contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the third inning to put New York up, 2-0. “We take it day by day here,” said Torres, “and today was a good one for us.” New York leads the American League East Division by 2½ games.

1B Nate Lowe scored the lone run for the Stars, he’d go 1-4 on the day with 2 strikeouts. Starer Brendan McKay threw 99 pitches over his 6 innings while giving up 6 hits and 2 runs.

---

05/11/2020-

Andrew
Benintendi

 

Boston Trades Benintendi for St. Louis’s Martinez: The Boston Red Sox have made a deal sending 25-year-old LF Andrew Benintendi and 23-year-old minor league RHP Thad Ward to the St. Louis Cardinals for 28-year-old RHP Carlos Martinez. Both sides are said to be pleased with the way the trade worked out.

For the year Benintendi has hit at a .247 clip with 17 RBIs, 5 home runs and 25 runs scored.

Thus far this season, Martinez has tossed 38 innings in 8 starts, fanned 55 batters, walked 10 and put up a 5.21 ERA with 2 wins and 4 losses.

 

Carlos
Martinez

05/14/2020-

Erik
Kratz

New York’s Kratz to Retire: Erik Kratz said years of hard work have taken their toll on him physically, and he’s decided it’s now time to retire.

“I don’t know any way other than full throttle, I’ve always been that way,” he said. “Going so hard for so many years might have cost me some time on my career, but I don’t regret a thing.”

The New York Yankees catcher is leaving the game behind at age 39.

Kratz’s all-time stats include: 182 hits, 36 doubles, no triples, 31 home runs and 101 RBIs in 326 games. He is batting .207 with 1 stolen base and has scored 78 runs.

Kirby
Yates

Max
Kepler

San Diego Trades Nix for Minnesota’s Kepler: You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes you find a deal anyway. The Baseball News Network is reporting that San Diego and Minnesota have made a swap with 33-year-old RHP Kirby Yates, 24-year-old minor league RHP Jacob Nix and $330,000 in cash being shipped to the Twins and in return the Padres would get 27-year-old RF Max Kepler.

San Diego general manager A.J. Preller said the two sides were close to a blockbuster trade before agreeing upon a smaller scale transaction.

“This is just a bit of housekeeping compared to what we wanted to do,” he said. “I won’t name names, but the potential deal we were close to making would have certainly grabbed some headlines.”

A source inside the San Diego organization said the two sides might not be done dealing, and another transaction could be in the works.

For the year Kepler is batting .250 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs and 27 runs scored.