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Clips

(July 14, 2017)

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Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Mike Trout 'ready to go' as Angels enter key stretch

By the numbers: The Angels are only three games out of an American League wild-

card spot

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 5)

Angels second-half preview: Will the starting pitchers step up?

Angels looking for second-half boost from Mike Trout’s return

Miller: Mike Trout’s back and so are the Dodgers, who look to be really going places

Angels: First-half review, second-half preview FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 12)

Trout slated to return as Halos host Rays

Inbox: Don't give up on Skaggs, Richards

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 14)

LEADING OFF: Trout returns, Cubs try to start turnaround

FROM ESPN.COM (Page 15)

Report: Angels' Eric Young Jr. clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake City

The one move each team should make in the second half

FROM YAHOO! SPORTS (Page 22)

Mike Trout is healthy and set to resume the historic start to his career

July 14, 2017 Page 3 of 23

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES

Mike Trout 'ready to go' as Angels enter key stretch

By Pedro Moura

After a ligament in his left thumb was torn when he slid headfirst into second base over Memorial Day

weekend, Mike Trout went five weeks without facing a pitcher.

He then batted 14 times against low-level minor leaguers before concluding Sunday that his timing had

returned. He cut short his scheduled rehab assignment and spent the next four days working out

normally.

So, when Trout steps into the batter’s box Friday night at Angel Stadium after the longest layoff of his

baseball life, he expects it will take him some time before he feels right again. But not a lot of time.

“It might take me a few pitches,” Trout said. “Maybe an at-bat or two.”

Trout, 25, said Thursday he has not felt pain in his thumb for five days. That’s unusual. Even players who

have returned sooner from similar procedures, including Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, reported

continued soreness as they returned.

“Every game, every at-bat, it got better,” Trout said. “I’m ready to go.”

Though the Angels played better than expected while Trout was out, they need him to be his normal self

if they are to avoid a precarious position at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

With a record of 45-47 — 19-20 without their best player — they sit three games behind Tampa Bay for

an American League wild-card slot as they prepare to host the Rays this weekend.

Because the Angels’ first half was devoid of days off, there are only 14 games between now and the

deadline. A superb or substandard stretch in that span could prompt the team to either buy or sell.

“Every game you play, every series, is just more information,” Angels general manager Billy Eppler said

Thursday. “As you gather more and more information, it just helps your decision-making. We’ll just

watch, see how the club does, see how guys respond, how the lineup clicks with Mike back in there.”

While Trout expects to require little buffer time, the club has tried to lower expectations in the first days

of his return.

“There’s only so much you can accomplish in the minor leagues on rehab,” Angels manager Mike

Scioscia said. “You can see velocity, you can see spin. But you could take 100 minor league at-bats and

there would still be an adjustment period in the major leagues. The quicker you get that process started,

the quicker you’ll be productive.

“Mike has shown his thumb is totally healthy. His legs are ready. His arm is ready. He’s done everything

you want to see somebody do.”

July 14, 2017 Page 4 of 23

Trout said he weighs the same he did before the injury and remains as strong as he was. Eppler said

Trout has been clocked with the same speed. So, soon, he should be back to normal. And his normal has

been great.

In 47 games, Trout hit .337 with a .461 on-base percentage and .742 slugging percentage. All would be

career highs over a full season, and all led the American League at the time of the injury.

His return supplies his teammates hope that they can overcome the opponents in front of them in the

wild-card standings. Houston, the American League Westleader, is entirely out of reach, yet the Angels

could still be in position to make the playoffs.

“Obviously, as disappointing as the first half looks, I think there are a lot of positive things that you can

take from it,” designated hitter Albert Pujols said. “With all the injuries we had, that’ll tell you the

character of the team that we have here. We have games with those guys that are in front of us in the

wild card left. We are pretty excited with where we are right now.

“We’ll have Trouty back — the best player in the game, obviously — and healthy pitching. We’ll see

where we are in September.”

The club has again suffered a spate of injuries to pitchers it expected to contribute this season, but its

Friday lineup could be identical to its opening-day order, if Scioscia so chooses.

It’s no longer a matter of who is able to play, but who is able to play well. Pujols’ statistics are at all-time

lows, and the Angels have not found reliable options at first base or second base after offseason

acquisitions Luis Valbuena and Danny Espinosa struggled through the first half.

“We have to get better if we want to reach our goal. We feel we will,” Scioscia said. “We need to hit the

ball better. We have some good hitters that haven’t done what they can do. We’re really confident that

we will get better as we move forward, and that’s when, I think, you can start to build some

momentum.”

Short hops

Left-hander Andrew Heaney started Thursday for the rookie-league Arizona Angels. It was his first game

since he underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery on July 1, 2016. He is expected to start twice

more there and then continue his rehab at other minor league levels. … Left-hander Tyler Skaggs is

slated to start a game in Arizona over the weekend. … Eppler said it’s fair to say injured right-

hander Garrett Richards (biceps nerve irritation) would require six to eight weeks to ramp up his

throwing for his return to the mound. Eight weeks from the season’s last day is Aug. 6, which means

there’s little wiggle room left for him to be cleared to throw. Eppler said he remains optimistic Richards

can pitch for the Angels this year.

July 14, 2017 Page 5 of 23

By the numbers: The Angels are only three games out of an American League wild-card spot

By Houston Mitchell

The Angels were not supposed to be in playoff contention this season, and when Mike Trout went on

the disabled list in late May, that was supposed to be the end for the team. But they are only three

games out of an American Leaguewild-card spot as the second half of the season begins.

Here’s a look at some key first-half numbers:

24-23: The Angel’s record when Mike Trout appeared in a game this season.

21-24: Their record in games without Trout.

10: The number of times teams have intentionally walked Trout this season, which leads the AL by three

over Logan Morrison of Tampa Bay.

25: The number of stolen bases for Cameron Maybin, tied for third (with Jose Cardenal in 1965 and

Devon White in 1989) for the most by an Angel at the break behind Chone Figgins (2005) and Trout

(2012), who each had 26.

.162: The batting average for Danny Espinosa, the lowest in Angels history for players with at least 200

plate appearances before the All-Star game. The previous low was Don Baylor, who was hitting .187 in

1981.

2,846: The number of games managed by Mike Scioscia after the first half of the season, more than the

next two highest Angels managers combined. Scioscia has managed 31.5% of Angels regular-season

games since they began play in 1961.

.290/.341/.438: Andrelton Simmons’ batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage,

which would all be career highs over a full season.

FROM ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Angels second-half preview: Will the starting pitchers step up?

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — The Angels bullpen has unquestionably been the strength of the club throughout the first

half, carrying the pitching staff and helping the team stay in contention.

Every time Manager Mike Scioscia has spoken in glowing terms about how well the relievers have

performed, he has added a caveat.

The starters are going to need to balance the scales at some point.

July 14, 2017 Page 6 of 23

“It has to happen,” Scioscia said.

In the meantime, the Angels have survived because of their bullpen. The relievers have a 3.79 ERA, which

is seventh in the majors. When the Angels have a lead after seven innings, they have won at a .923 clip,

slightly better than the major league average of .913.

The Angels are the only team in the majors that has won every game in which they have led by three runs.

They’re also stranded 77 percent of inherited runners, second-best in the majors.

“It’s the highlight of the team,” Angels starter Ricky Nolasco said. “Those guys are doing a great job with

heavy use. They’ve responded really well. They’ve kept us in a lot of ballgames.”

The key phrase there is “heavy use.” The Angels’ 284 relief appearances are seventh in the majors, and

their 306-2/3 innings are ninth.

Much of that work has been in high-leverage situations, thanks to an offense that has provided few

comfortable leads.

If the Angels are to contend in the second half, they are going to need the offense and starting rotation to

provide a few more 6-1 leads in the eighth, easing the burden on the bullpen.

Mike Trout’s return will certainly help the offense, as will a simple return to career norms for hitters such

as Danny Espinosa, Luis Valbuena and C.J. Cron.

The rotation, though, remains the big question, because the answers aren’t so apparent.

With Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney on the disabled list, and with

Nolasco performing below his expected level for most of the season, the Angels have been forced to

improvise with a patchwork rotation.

Only four other teams reached the break without a starter posting an ERA under 4.00 in at least 10 starts.

The Angels’ best healthy starter right now is … who?

The rotation has been around the middle of the pack in the majors, somewhat surprisingly. Their 4.44 ERA

ranks 14th in the majors. They are 18th in innings per start, and 18th in quality start percentage.

All of that has to improve, and Jesse Chavez is confident it will.

“At some point we’ll be able to take the weight off their back and we’ll be able to go deep in ballgames,”

said Chavez, who has a 4.99 ERA.

The difficulty in projecting that is only one of the healthy starters — Nolasco — has actually proven he can

be a successful starter over a full season. JC Ramirez has been a reliever his entire big league career.

Chavez was a reliever for most of his career. Alex Meyer and Parker Bridwell are unproven prospects.

“Just because they haven’t done it, doesn’t mean they can’t,” Scioscia said.

July 14, 2017 Page 7 of 23

The Angels are hoping the current healthy pitchers can show some durability and get a boost from some of

those on the disabled list.

“I think the lion’s share of our improvement is going to come from within,” Scioscia said. “Whether it’s

Skaggs, Shoemaker, Richards or Heaney. There’s a probability of some of those guys and some are

possibilities.”

Skaggs seems like the most likely to contribute. Although he had a setback in his rehab from a strained

oblique, he is facing hitters this week and will pitch in a minor league game in a few days. Unless he has

another setback, he figures to be back in early August.

Heaney is also pitching now, in the Arizona League. Just more than a year removed from Tommy John

surgery, Heaney was not expected to pitch in the majors this season, but his rehab has gone so smoothly

there’s a chance he’ll be back, perhaps as soon as August. Considering he’s coming back from major

surgery, and also a valuable piece of the Angels’ future, the club isn’t likely to take any chances with him,

though. Any slight setback might scuttle his chances of pitching this season.

Shoemaker was out with what was thought to be minor forearm tightness. He had a setback after a rehab

outing and now he’s shut down with a nerve issue. Until he gets cleared to throw again, which could come

within a week, it’s difficult to project his return.

As for Richards, his continued time on the disabled list has no doubt proved to be the most frustrating

development of the season for the Angels and their fans. After undergoing stem-cell therapy, he had

seemingly made a remarkable recovery from a damaged ulnar collateral ligament. He made it through

spring training and into the season-opening rotation, only to come out of his first game with a nerve issue.

He hasn’t thrown a ball since. Although a recent exam showed improvement, until he’s cleared to throw,

it’s impossible to project when he’ll come back.

Otherwise, there is certainly room for improvement from the healthy starters. Nolasco has a 5.06 ERA,

which is well above his career 4.52 mark coming into the season.

Bridwell (3.24 in 33-1/3 innings) and Meyer (4.18 in 60-1/3 innings) have pitched at times like they could

be long-term answers to holes in the rotation.

Between the healthy pitchers and the ones on the disabled list, Chavez believes there are enough options

to provide the type of starting pitching the Angels need to contend.

“We’re all professionals,” he said. “We’ve all had our success. We just need to keep it simple, not bang our

heads against the wall and say ‘Why are we not going seven or eight every night?’ Just keep it simple. It’s

going to come back around.”

July 14, 2017 Page 8 of 23

Angels looking for second-half boost from Mike Trout’s return

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — This time of year, in the weeks leading up to the trading deadline, all teams dream of the

impact players they could add.

None of them will acquire a player as good as the one the Angels are adding on Friday.

Mike Trout will return to the Angels lineup, after missing 39 games because of a torn ligament in his

thumb. As excited as Angels fans and even Angels players might be about this, they can’t match the way

Trout feels.

After completing one final workout before his return to the active roster, Trout flashed a broad smile and

said he can’t wait to get back.

“It’s tough watching,” he said Thursday. “Just cheering them in the dugout, you want to be out there so

bad. When they’re on the road and you’re watching on TV, you want to be out there so badly.”

While Trout was watching, he saw his teammates hold up surprisingly well in his absence. The Angels were

26-27 with Trout on the active roster, and 19-20 with him on the disabled list.

“We hung in there,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We missed him, no doubt about it. Mike is the type of

talent that makes everybody around him better. Hopefully there will be a little more offense, a little more

pressure we can generate with a guy like Mike in the lineup.”

Ironically, the Angels averaged 4.0 runs per game before Trout went on the DL, and 4.2 runs since. That’s

misleading though. So many other players were hitting poorly early in the season that they had nowhere

to go but up, even without Trout.

Their 4.1 runs per game is still the worst in the American League.

Trout’s production will unquestionably be a boost over the final two and a half months. The question,

however, is how soon Trout will again be himself.

Trout played four games in the minors in his rehab assignment. He went hitless in the first two. In the next

two, he had two hits and four walks. For the past four days, all he’s done is work out at Angel Stadium,

hitting against coaches.

Asked how quickly he expected to be back to normal, considering the time he missed and the absence of

any live pitching during the All-Star break, Trout said he didn’t figure it would be an issue.

“I’m ready,” he said. “It might take me a few pitches. Maybe an at-bat or two. We’ll see how it goes.”

Scioscia isn’t expecting Trout to have his timing and swing at 100 percent immediately, but that’s

unavoidable. No amount of rehab work can change that.

July 14, 2017 Page 9 of 23

“You can take 100 minor league at-bats, but there is an adjustment period to get to the big leagues,”

Scioscia said. “Major league pitching is a different animal. The quicker you get that process started, the

quicker you’ll be productive. Mike has shown his thumb is totally healthy. His legs are ready. His arm is

ready. He’s done everything you want to see somebody do… He’s ready for the challenge.”

REHAB UPDATE

Andrew Heaney gave up three runs and five hits in 1-2/3 innings on Thursday night in an Arizona League

game. It was his first competitive outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery just over a year ago.

Heaney is now essentially at the point a starting would be in the first week of spring training games. If all

goes well, he could be ready to start for the Angels in about a month. General Manager Billy Eppler said

the plan is for Heaney to pitch twice more in Arizona before moving up to a full-season minor league.

Tyler Skaggs is scheduled to pitch in the Arizona League on Sunday or Monday, Eppler said. Skaggs would

not need to spend as much time in the minors as Heaney, because he’s already been through spring

training and has been throwing for longer. Skaggs is rehabbing from an oblique injury.

Miller: Mike Trout’s back and so are the Dodgers, who look to be really going places

By Jeff Miller

ANAHEIM — The expectations remain high around here, almost as high as the anticipation for tonight.

And when’s the last time anyone looked forward to a game involving the Tampa Bay Rays?

But it’s not who the Angels are playing. Rather, it’s the Angel who’s playing, specifically Mike Trout,

returning from a thumb injury that, at the end of May, knocked him out but failed to KO his team.

“I did as much as I (could) cheering them on from the dugout and on the couch,” Trout said after a

workout Thursday. “But I’m happy to be back.”

The relentlessly average Angels – that’s a compliment given all their injuries – were one game under .500

(26-27) when Trout went down and then went one game under .500 (19-20) without him.

Their refusal to understandably fade minus baseball’s best player has left them in the middle of a wild-card

race that, with the American League’s rampant and infectious mediocrity, is somewhat doughy around the

middle.

What happens between now and the July 31 trade deadline will determine how seriously the Angels are

taking themselves when it comes to competing for anything more significant than the respect they’ve

already earned.

“Our goals are to achieve, to make the playoffs and beyond,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, after noting that

“and beyond” means winning the World Series. “Yeah, we’ll be disappointed if that doesn’t happen.”

July 14, 2017 Page 10 of 23

Disappointed, certainly, but not devastated, the Angels an even bigger longshot today than they were

when the season began.

This position is in direct contrast to some other teams, like, conveniently enough for purposes of this

argument, the Dodgers.

The club with baseball’s highest payroll and hottest lineup has performed every bit like a collection of

corporate partners making nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in compensation.

With baseball’s best record and 18 victories in their past 19 home games, the Dodgers have played their

way into an enviable and unforgiving spot we in the media absolutely adore.

See, with the season’s unofficial second half about to begin, they’ve succeeded so spectacularly that the

Dodgers’ 2017 fate now can be whittled to two distinct possibilities:

1) World Series champions.

2) Complete and colossal failures.

There is nothing in between, no more wiggle room than a banana is afforded by its peel.

Maybe it seems a little harsh to express the Dodgers’ potential fortunes in such drastic terms, particularly

seeing how winning the World Series can be so quirky that, in the past 20 seasons, five franchises have

claimed multiple titles and one of them is the Marlins.

But even the Dodgers themselves realize how good they are at the moment and can be throughout a long

October run, this bunch challenging the annual notion that every team to some degree is flawed.

Though no one in the media is allowed in the clubhouse during the most honest exchanges, I’m pretty sure

the Dodgers aren’t sitting around talking about how satisfying it would be to win the National League.

I mean, since late April, they are a ridiculous 52-18, the sort of mark you’d expect in conference play from

Kentucky’s basketball team.

For the record, this isn’t the SEC. This is the NL, which doesn’t feature a single Missouri or LSU, although it

does have a San Diego Padres.

Still, baseball isn’t a game designed to be won nearly 75 percent of the time, even by the best teams

playing at the loftiest levels.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Dodgers are the rarest of contenders in that there is no obvious

deficiency that demands to be addressed.

Consider the improbability of that prospect, especially at a time when perception is ruled by a general

manager’s aggressiveness in seizing late-season opportunity.

July 14, 2017 Page 11 of 23

The Dodgers aren’t perfect – just because the only perfection in baseball comes at the end of 27

consecutive outs.

Sure, there will still be public calls for roster upgrading, and the team’s decision-makers certainly will

tweak what’s already there.

If we’ve learned one thing about Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, it’s that they’ll always tweak, if not

more.

The Dodgers, however, as constructed look good enough to win baseball’s biggest games, standing pat, in

their case, nothing at all like standing still.

All of which brings us back to the Angels, who are about to receive the greatest roster addition in the

history of this game and in the history of July, the team trading not having Mike Trout for having him.

It’s a win-win for a club two games below .500 and on the verge of deciding what August and September

will be all about.

“My body’s right,” Trout said. “My thumb’s healed. Everything feels great. I’m ready to go. I’m 100

percent.”

Welcome to baseball’s second half, folks, during which the relentlessly average have to get better, while

the simply relentless only have to keep being the best.

Angels: First-half review, second-half preview

By Jeff Fletcher

ANGELS FIRST-HALF REVIEW

HOW THEY GOT HERE: The Angels really shouldn’t be 45-47, if you consider all that went wrong in the first

half. They have played nearly half their games without Mike Trout, who tore a ligament in his thumb in late

May. Surprisingly, the Angels went 19-20 without Trout. The Angels have survived because of their

bullpen, which ranks seventh in the majors with a 3.79 ERA. It’s allowed them to win almost all of the

games in which they’ve had a lead. The defense has also been above average. The Angels are dead last in

the league in runs per game, though.

ANGELS SECOND-HALF PREVIEW

KEY TO THE SECOND HALF: The lineup has several holes that the Angels hope will be filled. Getting back

Trout certainly helps, but the Angels also need to get better production out of first and second base. The

three primary players at those spots — Luis Valbuena, C.J. Cron and Danny Espinosa — are projected to do

better than they have. If they approach their career numbers, the offense can get better without adding

anyone from outside the organization.

July 14, 2017 Page 12 of 23

TRADE POSSIBILITIES: The Angels’ farm system, albeit improved, is still thin. If they are going to get help, it

makes the most sense to get someone who will be around beyond this season, and that type of player

costs prospects. Are the Angels going to be willing to further deplete their farm system to make a deal for

a player like Dee Gordon or a pitcher like Gerrit Cole? Or would they more likely just spend a little of their

prospect capital for a rental player like Jeremy Hellickson? If they go the other way and sell, they could

move Yunel Escobar, Bud Norris or Cameron Maybin. All three would be attractive to some contenders.

But all are free agents at the end of the season, so none is likely to net big returns in prospects.

BIGGEST CONCERN: The Angels need some healthy starters. Tyler Skaggs, Matt Shoemaker, Andrew

Heaney and Garrett Richards are on the disabled list. They need to get at least two of them back, and have

them pitch well, if they are going to have a chance to compete for a playoff spot. The problem is, it’s hard

to feel confident any of them will return and be productive. Each has significant question marks.

SCHEDULE: The Angels have four consecutive series against contenders after the break, starting with the

one they are most immediately chasing. The Tampa Bay Rays hold the second wild-card spot, which is the

Angels’ most likely ticket to the postseason. After that, the next three series are against first-place teams:

the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. If they can get through that, they have a

little breather, with series against the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Trout slated to return as Halos host Rays

By Connor Mount / MLB.com

A pair of teams that spent the first half hovering around .500 meet at Angel Stadium on Friday looking to

find more sustainable success the rest of the way, and one has a notable addition to the lineup.

Reigning American League Most Valuable Player Mike Trout is slated to return to the Angels after being

sidelined since May 29 with a torn ligament in his left thumb.

The Angels hit a rough patch entering the All-Star break, having lost five of seven. They've suffered from

a starting rotation decimated by injuries that hasn't been able to pitch deep into games, and an offense

that struggled, having been shut out three times since June 27.

Enter Trout, who batted .337 with a 1.203 OPS before the injury, and his addition to the lineup could be

a big boost for the Halos, who have hovered around .500 since Trout went on the disabled list.

The Rays and Angels are two of the three teams in the Majors that have spent the entire season within

four games of an even record, the Cubs being the other.

"I think that's a product of a bunch of quality teams," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "There are no easy

wins, there are no easy series in this league. You look at the standings, obviously you separate the

July 14, 2017 Page 13 of 23

division, but then you look at the Wild Card, there are a lot of teams in the hunt. That's a byproduct of

just having a lot of good teams."

Three things to know about this game

• The Angels rank near the bottom in most hitting categories, but lead the Majors in stolen bases, paced

by Cameron Maybin's 25 steals, the most by an Angel before the All-Star break since 2012. The Rays

have caught 13 runners, third-to-last in MLB, but only recently had Wilson Ramos make his season debut

behind the plate.

• Jacob Faria will make the first start of the second half for the Rays. He has begun his career with six

consecutive quality starts, the first pitcher to do so since Masahiro Tanaka churned off 16 in a row in

2014.

• Andrelton Simmons entered Sunday's first-half finale against the Rangers with 97 hits, the fourth-most

by an Angels shortstop. He's the only Halos shortstop to record 90 hits, 20 doubles and nine homers

before the All-Star break.

Inbox: Don't give up on Skaggs, Richards

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

Is it time to give up on either Tyler Skaggs or Garrett Richards? Or both? @dsilva_714 via Twitter

I don't think so. While it's true that Skaggs and Richards have both missed significant chunks of the

season due to injury for a second consecutive year, they are still talented pitchers, which makes them

valuable commodities for the Angels. Skaggs had a minor setback in his return from an oblique injury,

but he's still on track to rejoin the Halos' rotation in late July or early August and should help boost the

pitching staff.

Richards, who has been sidelined with an irritated nerve in his right biceps, is also improving, though it's

unclear if he'll be ready in time to pitch again this season. Even if he doesn't, Richards is under club

control through the 2018 season, so it's unlikely the Angels would let him go. Richards will earn $6.85

million this season and will be due a raise this winter in his final year of arbitration, but even that figure

promises to be lower than what a pitcher of his caliber would command on the open market. Though

injuries have limited him to 39 1/3 innings over the last two years, I expect Richards to still be with the

Angels next year.

Is a Wild Card berth a viable goal? @kidceej via Twitter

For now, yes. Given the sizeable lead the Astros have amassed in the American League West, the Angels'

only real path to the playoffs would be through a Wild Card berth, and they're only three games behind

the Rays for the second spot right now. Still, the Angels are currently viewed as postseason longshots,

with a 13.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Fangraphs. The Yankees, Rays, Rangers

July 14, 2017 Page 14 of 23

and Royals all have better playoff odds right now and figure to be the Halos' primary competition in the

Wild Card race.

The next two and a half weeks will be crucial, but the Angels will have one major advantage over

everyone else, which is that Mike Trout is set to come off the disabled list.

Any chance the Angels trade Cameron Maybin to clear room for Mike Trout on the roster and play Ben

Revere and Eric Young Jr. in left field? @nmbaseball52via Twitter

It's a possibility, but I think the timing is a little tricky. The postseason landscape in the AL is pretty

murky right now, meaning most teams will wait until the last minute to define their position at the July

31 Non-waiver Trade Deadline. Trout is scheduled to return, which means the Angels will likely be forced

to make a difficult roster decision between Revere and Young before getting a full sense of Maybin's

potential trade market. It'll be interesting to see what the Angels decide to do.

Any chance on seeing Nate Smith in the Majors this year? akallday22 via Twitter

Yes, once he's healthy. Smith has made only one start for Triple-A Salt Lake this season due to injury, but

he's pitched well in three rehab starts in the Arizona League, tossing 9 1/3 scoreless innings with two

walks and 10 strikeouts. He should be a prime candidate for a callup once he's active and a little more

stretched out.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Trout returns, Cubs try to start turnaround

Associated Press

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

BACK TO IT

Baseball is back, and so is Mike Trout. The two-time AL MVP is set to return to the Angels lineup after

missing 39 games because of a torn ligament in his left thumb. Los Angeles opens the unofficial second

half against Tampa Bay, which took three of four from Boston before the All-Star break to get within 3

1/2 games of the AL East lead. Jacob Faria (4-0, 2.11) has been among the best rookie pitchers this

season, striking out 37 over his first 38 1/3 big league innings. Tampa Bay is 5-1 in games he's started.

BEARING DOWN

The Cubs won't get to show off new pitcher Jose Quintana just yet, but they are back in action against

Baltimore and looking to get on track following a disappointing open to the season. Chicago hopes

Quintana, acquired from the White Sox in a blockbuster trade Thursday, can aid an aging rotation, but

first it will turn to Mike Montgomery (1-6, 3.75) against the O's. The Cubs are 43-45, well behind their

July 14, 2017 Page 15 of 23

53-35 mark through 88 games last season, when they ended a 108-year World Series drought.

TITO RETURNS

Indians manager Terry Francona will be back on the bench a week removed from a procedure for an

irregular heartbeat. Francona says he's feeling better, though "a little tired, but that'll come." The 58-

year-old was supposed to manage the AL during Tuesday's All-Star Game, but instead rested after

dealing with dizziness, fatigue and a rapid heart rate before the break.

FIRST OF FOUR

The AL East-leading Red Sox are set to host the second-place Yankees for four games. Boston's charge to

the top of the division before the break was fueled largely by Chris Sale and Mookie Betts, but scheduled

starter Drew Pomeranz (9-4, 3.60) has also been excellent. The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in his

past five starts entering the series opener with New York. For the Yankees, Aaron Judge returns from his

dominant All-Star Home Run Derby championship with a chance at an AL MVP/Rookie of the Year

sweep.

HAIRY SITUATION

Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom takes on Colorado righty Jon Gray in a battle of well-coifed hurlers.

DeGrom (9-3, 3.65) has been excellent for a New York rotation beset by injuries, winning five

consecutive starts behind a 1.62 ERA. Gray (2-0, 3.75) missed over two months with a stress fracture in

his left foot this season, but has won both his starts since recovering. And of course, both pitchers have

rocked shoulder-length hair, although Gray is still growing his back out after he chopped off eight inches

for charity in April.

UNLUCKY GIO

Gio Gonzalez tries to snap an unlikely skid for himself when the NL East-leading Nationals face the Reds.

Gonzalez (7-4, 2.86) has lost three straight starts despite a 2.37 ERA over that stretch. The steady left-

hander had gone eight starts without a loss prior to this streak.

FROM ESPN.COM

Report: Angels' Eric Young Jr. clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake City

ESPN.com news services

Los Angeles Angels OF Eric Young Jr. cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake City on

Thursday, according to multiple reports.

Young Jr. signed a minor league contract with the Angels in January to compete for a spot on the bench.

He got the call when Angels star Mike Trout went down with a torn ligament in this thumb.

July 14, 2017 Page 16 of 23

Filling in for Trout, the 32-year-old Young has hit .260 with 3 homers, 11 RBIs and 8 steals in 34 games.

Trout, who has been on the disabled list since May 30, is on track to be activated Friday.

The one move each team should make in the second half

By Dan Szymborski / Special to ESPN.com

While not halfway through the season using mathematical criteria, the All-Star break is the

traditional midpoint: a respite from the day-to-day grind that provides an opportunity to look back

and make some changes.

For each of the 30 teams, I'm proposing one change, whether to the lineup or the staff or something

that needs to be accomplished with deliberate speed. And since my nearly four decades of existence

has led me to believe that people are not overly thrilled with backseat drivers, assume that all these

moves are enforced by the threat of some kind of Doomsday Laser.

(Editor: Dan, please check your email, re: Use of Doomsday Laser.)

I've just been told that I might not use a Doomsday Laser or the threat of creating a new era of

humanity from my undersea fortress, so you'll have to use your imagination.

Also, we're going to list teams from worst to first, according to our current MLB Power Rankings, so

that we get less depressing as we go down the page.

30. Philadelphia Phillies

At this point, it's a waste of time to just leave Rhys Hoskins in the minors, crushing Triple-A pitchers

when he should get accustomed to trying to terrorize the MLB ones. Yes, the team already has a first

baseman and Hoskins is unlikely to be a good outfielder, but the point isn't winning games now, it's

about learning things about the future. It's good the team pulled the plug on Michael Saunders, but

the Phillies are still acting more like a team that's further ahead in the rebuilding process than it is.

29. San Diego Padres

The Padres have done a lot of good things during their rebuild and in challenging their best

prospects in the majors without putting them in and out of the lineup/rotation, with Dinelson

Lamet being the best example. However, even before Allen Córdoba's hand injury, the team was still

not fully committed to trying Córdoba at shortstop full-time. Yes, Erick Aybar is the better shortstop

right now, but the wins are meaningless for the Padres, and finding out what Córdoba and Carlos

Asuaje can do is more important than maximizing their 2017 record.

28. San Francisco Giants

A team comeback isn't coming in 2017 and a Matt Cain comeback (to his 2012 form) is increasingly

looking as if it's never going to happen. A Madison Bumgarner return probably kicks Cain out of the

July 14, 2017 Page 17 of 23

rotation, but with a Johnny Cueto trade possible, the Giants should take a look at Andrew Suarez,

rather than possibly giving Cain his job back. Tyler Beede might have the higher ceiling, but Suarez

is the better pitcher right now, and spacious AT&T Park in a lost season might be a better home

than the Pacific Coast League for a pitcher with solid but not overwhelming stuff.

27. Oakland Athletics

Rajai Davis isn't helping the A's win now and playing him doesn't help the A's win later. Neither Jaff

Decker nor Mark Canha are going to be stars, or even above-average starters, but it's more

productive to see what they can actually contribute rather than giving at-bats to Davis.

26. Cincinnati Reds

If Zack Cozart plays a game for the Reds in August, something has gone seriously wrong with their

planning. Two years ago, the Reds made a blunder in not trading Todd Frazier at the peak of his

value, hot off the All-Star Game -- and even in that case, they at least had the chance to get

something for him in the offseason. The team doesn't have that luxury with Cozart, and a rebuilding

team talking extension with a soon-to-be-32-year-old shortstop having his best season by far is just

crazy talk.

25. Chicago White Sox

Finish the job. Prospects are uncertain and there's no such thing as having a farm system that's too

good. Most of the veterans on the team have less trade value than they did three months ago --

with David Robertson the exception -- and the team has gotten very little benefit from hanging onto

them.

24. Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore now has the second-worst Pythagorean record in the American League and the rotation

has exactly zero starters it can truly count on for a stretch run. It's now time to turn to the future.

There are lots of trades the Orioles could make if they chose to, but let's be a bit creative and

play Manny Machado at shortstop for the rest of the season. J.J. Hardy isn't healthy or even good at

this point, so there's no reason to not see what Machado can do with a real, significant stretch at

shortstop, longer than the one he had in 2016.

23. Detroit Tigers

It's time to come off the price when talking about Justin Verlander. A team that is willing to pick up

his full contract and give significant prospects, as Detroit has made noise about requiring, ought to

be questioned by the commissioner. It might be a negotiating position, but Detroit has spent the

past year-and-a-half talking rebuild and then backing off at the slightest difficult decision, as seen

by its lukewarm winter. The biggest change Detroit needs is a front office/ownership that realizes

there's no longer a retool window and their empire looks like Rome in 450 AD.

July 14, 2017 Page 18 of 23

22. New York Mets

Can we stop pretending that Jose Reyes is a major leaguer? Amed Rosario needs to be on the team

now and not just for the future -- he helps the team right now more than Reyes. But they should

make this change even if he wasn't. Do we really need a repeat of the Michael Confortodisaster, in

which the Mets did everything they could to not give Conforto a full-time job at the start of the

season, only "lucking" into it when injuries forced their hand?

21. Miami Marlins

The ownership situation makes it more dicey politically, but it's necessary, for the future of the

team, to start the fire sale as soon as possible. The farm system is a wreck and what crumbs that

were left were traded away for marginal gains over the last calendar year. This team needs to start

rebuilding sooner rather than later.

20. Pittsburgh Pirates

While generally well run, it's bizarre that the Pirates are rewarding Andrew McCutchen's offensive

comeback by deciding to keep him in a defensive position that he can no longer play well. It's silly

to attribute his offensive comeback to playing center field -- he proved he could be plenty mediocre

playing center -- and it's not increasing his value any. It's probably better to leave other teams

wondering whether Cutch can still play center than removing all doubt that he can't.

19. Atlanta Braves

After a blazing hot start, Matt Kemp's recent struggles, exacerbated by his hamstring issues, have

actually sent his season OPS+ plunging right to the level of his 2015-2016 campaigns. Atlanta could

probably have done better for Kemp two months ago, but he's still hitting enough that a team with a

designated hitter and a hint of desperation might have some interest, and the Braves should seize

any opportunity to trade him that arises. "Designated hitter" is the key phrase in that previous

sentence. Despite the stories in spring training about him being in "the best shape of his life," he's

still one of the worst defensive outfielders imaginable.

18. Toronto Blue Jays

Speaking of teams that could theoretically use Matt Kemp as a designated hitter, the Blue Jays look

like one as they are 14th in the American League in runs scored. They've done well to right

themselves after a horrific start, but the wins are coming too slowly to catch up without getting

more offense from somewhere, whether it's Kemp or J.D. Martinez or Justin Upton or whoever. The

Blue Jays might be more in retool mode than rebuild mode right now, but they have to do

something unless they're going to throw in the towel on 2017.

17. Seattle Mariners

If there's a team that has incentive to overpay for a starting pitcher, it's the Mariners, who had a

scary stretch this season when Yovani Gallardo was their only healthy starter, a bit like needing to

commute to work and realizing your only means of transportation is a rusty tricycle the neighbor's

July 14, 2017 Page 19 of 23

kid left in your yard. If the Tigers become realistic on Verlander, someone who can throw six to

seven innings and not be horrible is something the team really needs.

16. Los Angeles Angels

Alex Meyer certainly has control issues, but his erratic brilliance still beats the nonexistent version

of most of the rest of the rotation. Better a guy walking to first base than watching a player trot

around the bases, which is Ricky Nolasco's specialty. With the health of Tyler Skaggs, Garrett

Richards and Matt Shoemaker all in doubt to varying degrees, Meyer projects, per the ZiPS system,

as the team's best surviving starter.

15. St. Louis Cardinals

While Michael Wacha's strikeout rate is back to where it was in his rookie season, he also hasn't

gotten into the seventh inning since April and has failed to finish the fifth in nearly a third of his

starts. Given the team's bullpen problems, it makes a lot of sense to move Luke Weaver to the

rotation and give Wacha some high-leverage relief innings, where his stuff probably would play

better than Weaver's. Not that you give up on Wacha as a starter long term, but as long as the Cards

are competing, it's a better use of resources.

14. Minnesota Twins

Aside from Jose Berrios and Ervin Santana -- though the latter's 4.68 FIP suggests a big downside --

the team's rotation will be hard-pressed to keep up with the Indians over the season's second half.

Nor does it seem a good idea to trade prospects for a win-now type of move. Why not try to catch

lightning in a bottle and get Stephen Gonsalves and Fernando Romero into the rotation? Maybe they

pitch like the 2016 Berrios, but they're the only probable source of pitching upside this season,

which is something the team needs.

13. Texas Rangers

Time to ditch the first-base platoon. Mike Napoli's looking like toast and Joey Gallo didn't show

unusually large platoon splits in the minors. Even if you don't want Gallo starting against the

toughest lefties, Napoli isn't the answer. The team has overperformed offensively (444 runs versus

408 runs created) and the wild-card race is going to come down to just a win or two, with this many

teams involved.

12. Kansas City Royals

It's time to end the Alcides Escobar era. Yes, Raul Mondesi was a disaster in April, but given the

chance to settle down in Triple-A -- he was promoted a bit too rapidly in 2016 -- he actually has

started hitting, with an .891 OPS for Omaha. And Escobar has been a disaster the entire season, not

just over a two-week period, as Mondesi was. It's nice they got Escobar out of the starting lineup,

what with the Royals having the worst leadoff OBP in recorded history (if the season ended today),

but it's not enough as 2017 is K.C.'s last chance at relevance. It's time for big ideas.

July 14, 2017 Page 20 of 23

11. Chicago Cubs

I'm going to cheat here and say that the thing the Cubs need to do most is to not make any major

changes. It's largely the same core that got them their World Series title, after all, and making a

major trade when the solution isn't obvious can largely be counterproductive. There's very little

research on the long-term consequences of moving players around, but I'm starting to wonder

whether an underperforming team like the Cubs should dial back on the shuffling a little bit.

10. Tampa Bay Rays

It's time for Brent Honeywell, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a sucker for a pitcher with a

screwball. Jacob Faria, Honeywell, and eventually Jose De Leon are the future of the Rays, and

Tampa Bay's best seasons owed a large part to the fact that the Rays were never afraid to make the

future now. Honeywell's ERA in Durham (4.54) is misleading; he had a 2.84 FIP for the Bulls. He's a

better addition than most teams will "add" at the trade deadline.

9. Colorado Rockies

One thing smart organizations do is give minor leaguers opportunities to prove the team

wrong. Mike Tauchman absolutely should not have been considered a serious prospect coming into

the season. But he has exploded in a big way this year, hitting 11 of his 19 professional homers this

season, and more important, the Rockies have been getting literally nothing out of their corner

outfield spots this season. Their combined 71 wRC+ in the corners this season is the third worst in

baseball, behind only the Giants and Royals, so why not roll the dice and see what Tauchman, who

was sent back to Albuquerque on Friday, can do? It's not as if Carlos Gonzalez has done anything

this year, and tenure is a poor way to make baseball decisions.

8. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers got to where they are this season by catching lightning in a bottle. Well, that and the

Cubs stinking, but let's go with lightning for now. Josh Hader has the highest upside of any starting

pitcher currently on the roster, so why not be a little aggressive and get him into the rotation now,

where he can do the most good if it works out? And if the team wants to give a top prospect pitcher

an apprenticeship in relief, there's a perfectly good Luis Ortiz lurking.

7. New York Yankees

The team has two of the scariest relievers in baseball in Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances. But

what the team has lacked is real creativity in using these assets. There are 34 relievers with at least

five saves this year, and among that group, Betances and Chapman rank 26th and 28th in leverage

index when entering the game, at 1.39 and 1.37 respectively (it takes a 1.7 to get into the top 10).

Yet Tyler Clippard at 1.36 has been used, essentially, in similarly crucial situations, and his ERA is

north of 5.00.

July 14, 2017 Page 21 of 23

6. Cleveland Indians

The player in Cleveland's lineup with the worst on-base percentage is Jason Kipnis at .292. He has

started most games in the leadoff spot. The player in Cleveland's lineup with the second-worst on-

base percentage is Francisco Lindor at .312. Both are fine players but are miscast as top-of-the-

order guys on a team with four players with an on-base percentage of at least .350.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Remember the note above about the Yankees not using their top relievers in high-leverage

situations? Fernando Rodney has been used in the highest-leverage situations of any reliever in

baseball (minimum 20 innings). Has that ever struck anybody as a good idea? Andrew

Chafin and Archie Bradley are the team's two best relievers. Give them the most crucial situations.

It's OK to demote Rodney -- that's not a real longbow he's carrying on the mound.

4. Boston Red Sox

Rafael Devers is hitting .300/.369/.575 in Double-A this season. Red Sox third basemen have a .625

OPS combined, better than only the Giants. Devers, as legend has it, just happens to play third base.

Come on, Boston, this is a more obvious pairing than peanut butter and chocolate.

3. Washington Nationals

I've read MLB's collective bargaining agreement, and I see no clause that explicitly forbids

kidnappi- (Editor: Dan, please check your email -- again.) OK, so absconding with an O's reliever

won't fly, but the Orioles aren't really using their bullpen. There's no team in the league with a more

compelling need to overpay for relief pitching than the Nats. This is a team that needs to be

aggressive in picking up relievers in the coming weeks.

2. Houston Astros

The Astros have a 16½-game lead in the AL West and a 10-game lead for home-field advantage

throughout the AL playoffs. Houston could acquire Tim Tebow and bench Carlos Correa to play

Tebow at short, and they might still lap the field by the end of September. Upgrading from Carlos

Beltran at DH would be prudent but probably isn't necessary.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Yasiel Puig's on pace to get near 30 homers for the first time in his career, but big picture rather

than counting dingers: He's not actually hitting any better (103 OPS+) than he has over the past two

seasons (104 OPS+). The talks of his resurgence are mostly because of the recency bias created by a

solid June (.965 OPS). Last month aside, I'd be surprised if Alex Verdugo wasn't a better overall

player than Puig was at this point. While it's hard to make the move work from a roster standpoint,

remember, I'm the guy with the Doomsday Laser. (Editor: Dan ... check your email.)

July 14, 2017 Page 22 of 23

FROM YAHOO! SPORTS

Mike Trout is healthy and set to resume the historic start to his career

By Chris Cwik / Big League Stew

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout’s Baseball-Reference page already reads like a roadmap to the

Hall of Fame.

A career .308/.408/.567 slash line. Six All-Star Game selections. Five Silver Sluggers. Two MVP awards.

Finishing as the runner-up in the other three seasons he’s been eligible for the MVP award. The highest

fWAR of any player through his age-24 season.

Mike Trout isn’t just the best player in baseball, he’s already put himself among the best to ever play the

game.

That’s not good enough for him. Despite all the accomplishments, Trout is “obsessed with being great.”

“I want to be the best,” Trout told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. “At the end of my career, if somebody

brings up my name [I want them to say]: The guy played 100 percent the whole time and left it all out on

the field.”

For the first time in his career, Trout’s pursuit of history has been put to the test. The 25-year-old tore a

ligament in his left thumb on a slide attempt during a May 28 game against the Miami Marlins. The next

day, Trout decided to have surgery. He was expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

He’s expected to return on Friday night after just six-and-a-half weeks, proving that he even heals better

than the average human being. During that time, he’s been viciously attacking his rehab, ensuring

he doesn’t miss a beat after his first-ever stint on the disabled list.

Trout’s use of the term “obsessed” is not a coincidence. The outfielder is the star of a new ad titled

“Obsession,” in which he is shown going through a training montage as he speaks dramatically

uplifting phrases while motivating music swells in the background.

It’s part of a campaign created by former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant for BODYARMOR sports

drink. Trout says the beverage helps him avoid cramps and stay hydrated during games and workouts.

While the phrase “crush my delts” is worthy of attention, and a reminder that Trout is in unbelievably

good shape, the repeated line “back to it” is a more appropriate summation of Trout’s mindset.

“I keep telling myself — and this should be for everybody — you can always get better at something”

Trout says. “The ultimate goal is to win a championship … that’s what motivates me.”

On the surface, it’s easy to want to dismiss that as a typical cliché answer from an athlete. Trout’s

already the best player in baseball. How much more can he realistically improve?

July 14, 2017 Page 23 of 23

We should all know better than to doubt Trout’s abilities by now. During the second half in 2014, a small

weakness emerged in Trout’s game: He wasn’t hitting high pitches well. Take “weakness” with a grain of

salt here — Trout did go on to win the MVP — but he slugged just .138 against pitches classified in or

beyond the upper third of the strike zone. It was a legitimate concern.

Trout acknowledged it was an issue the following February, telling Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles

Times that he planned to work on it during spring training. By May 2015, he was slugging about .800 on

fastballs classified as high or high and inside, as chronicled by Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs. In three

months, Trout turned his only weakness into one of his biggest strengths.

That year, Trout improved his batting average, on-base percentage, hit a career-high 41 home runs and

lead the league in slugging. He finished second in the MVP voting. Not good enough.

Driven by his motivation to be the best, Trout returned in 2016 and hit for an even higher average. He

led the league in walks, on-base percentage and OPS+. He won the MVP award this time, as if there

were any doubt.

That brings us back to 2017. After missing 39 games, Trout finds himself in an unusual position. His 3.4

fWAR ranks seventh among all American League players. He’s finished first in the AL in fWAR every

season since 2012. If Trout is hoping to catch New York Yankees rookie phenom Aaron Judge, who leads

baseball with a 5.5 fWAR and looks like the odds-on-favorite for AL MVP, he faces one heck of an uphill

battle.

And yet, when Trout returns from his thumb injury Friday, he’ll do so with the best slash line of his

career. His .337 batting average is a career-high. As are his .440 on-pace percentage and .742 slugging

percentage. He still leads baseball with 10 intentional walks.

Trout once again figured out a way to improve, and was well on his way to winning another MVP award

before the injury. The only thing keeping him from achieving that is time. Given Trout’s mindset, and his

track record when faced with adversity, you can’t discard the idea.

If Trout can pull it off, it would take an unprecedented performance that would undoubtedly extend his

already historic start. It would be yet another step toward Trout reaching his ultimate goal: Not just

being among legends, but being the best of all-time.