:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50292573/578915064.0.jpg)
Listen, we know it's tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn't easy. It's okay, though, we're going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network, as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
* * *
Back in June, the Blue Jays stated that their best pitcher, Aaron Sanchez, would be going to the bullpen later on in the year because of his workload. They weren’t sure exactly when — sometime after the All-Star break was as far as they got — but it was definitely going to happen — their words, even. It’s now Aug. 4. The Jays added Francisco Liriano at the trade deadline, presumably to replace Sanchez. Or, maybe not, since it turns out the Jays haven’t made a decision on Sanchez one way or another.
We’ve gone from "going to happen" to "Nothing’s locked in stone yet" and "I have no info for you right at this moment" out of the mouth of manager John Gibbons. That’s even weirder since general manager Ross Atkins specifically discussed how Liriano’s acquisition helped the Jays with the inevitable move of Sanchez to the pen, and President Mark Shapiro was on the radio saying Sanchez isn’t going to have a full season as a starter as recently as Tuesday.
It feels like the move is still inevitable, and the Jays are just squeezing every last start they can out of Sanchez amid a tight AL East race. Sanchez’s career high for innings has already been met — he’s at 139, he tossed 102 last year between the majors and minors, and his previous high was 109 back in 2013. He can still get hurt in the bullpen, as Grant Brisbee mentioned when this debate first arose, but at the same time, having him pitch even more doesn’t necessarily seem like the best way to avoid future injury if that’s the goal. With Toronto just a game back of the Orioles, though, and the Red Sox only two games behind them, maybe the goals are shifting.
- The Mariners celebrated the career of David Ortiz — whom they had in their organization before anyone else all the way back in 1992 — with a number of gifts, including a giant salmon.
- J.D. Martinez returned from the disabled list, came in to pinch hit, and hit a game-winning homer against Chris Sale on the first pitch he saw. Welcome back!
- It’s time Cardinals fans prepare their goodbyes for Matt Holliday, whose contract is just a few months from expiring.
- Meet Edwin Diaz, new Mariners’ closer and strikeout machine.
- The career arc of Yasiel Puig is a weird one, but maybe we should have seen parts of it coming. And hey, it’s not over yet, either.
- Baseball, softball, and four other sports will be part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- Joc Pederson couldn’t reel in this homer, and he lost his glove over the wall to boot.
- This isn’t the worst thing that happened to the Dodgers on Wednesday, as Clayton Kershaw was transferred to the 60-day disabled list and won’t be able to return until Aug. 26 at the earliest.
- Mark Teixeira might not have much time left with the Yankees, but he managed to squeeze a blooper in for us. Pretty nice of him, really.