Alex Rodriguez not in Yankees’ starting lineup vs. Red Sox on Friday

By Bill BaerMay 1, 2015, 6:55 PM EDT
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Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez, currently sitting on 659 career home runs, will have to wait one more day to continue his pursuit of tying Willie Mays for fourth on baseball’s all-time home run leaderboard. He is not in Friday’s starting lineup against the Red Sox. Via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch:

Rodriguez last homered on April 26 against the Mets, but he has been in a rut at the plate spanning nearly two weeks. Since April 18, he’s batting .135/.319/.270 with one home run, two RBI, and a an 11/10 K/BB ratio in 47 plate appearances.

Justin Masterson is on the hill for the Red Sox on Friday night opposing CC Sabathia of the Yankees. Red Sox lefty Wade Miley opposes Nathan Eovaldi of the Yankees on Saturday afternoon.

Rockies, Trevor Story agree on two-year, $27.5 million contract

Trevor Story
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
By Bill BaerJan 24, 2020, 10:44 PM EST
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ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Rockies and shortstop Trevor Story have come to terms on a two-year, $27.5 million deal, buying out his two remaining years of arbitration eligibility.

Story, 27, and the Rockies did not agree on a salary before the deadline earlier this month. Story filed for $11.5 million while the team countered at $10.75 million. The average annual value of this deal — $13.75 million — puts him a little bit ahead this year and likely a little bit behind next year.

This past season in Colorado, Story hit .294/.363/.554 with 35 home runs, 85 RBI, 111 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases over 656 trips to the plate. He also continued to rank among the game’s best defensive shortstops. Per FanGraphs, Story’s 10.9 Wins Above Replacement over the last two seasons is fifth-best among shortstops (min. 1,000 PA) behind Alex Bregman, Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, and Marcus Semien.

With third baseman Nolan Arenado likely on his way out via trade, one wonders if the same fate awaits Story at some point over the next two seasons.