Cubs expected to host an All-Star Game in the near future - MLB

The 2016-18 All-Star Games are spoken for, but the Cubs could play host not long thereafter according to commissioner Rob Manfred, Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reports.

The Padres are hosting at Petco Park this year, the Marlins will host at Marlins Park next season, and the Nationals will host in 2018 at Nationals Park. That will make four consecutive National League hosts and five if the Cubs get it in 2019. In the past, the National and American Leagues have alternated hosting privileges. That is sort of important now since the league that wins the All-Star Game gets home field advantage in the World Series.

The Cubs last hosted the All-Star Game in 1990 and have hosted a total of three times (1962 and 1947 being the other years) since its inception in 1933.

Wrigley Field has been undergoing renovations which are expected to be completed by the 2019 season. Manfred said that the Cubs hosting the All-Star Game “will provide the Cubs and Ricketts family a chance to showcase the unbelievable renovation they are in the midst of doing for Wrigley field.”

Update: Here’s a table showing the last time each team hosted the All-Star Game.

Team	Park	Last Hosted	Yrs Since	Notes
Dodgers	Dodger Stadum	1980	35
Nationals	Olympic Stadium (Expos)	1982	33	2018 host
Athletics	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum	1987	28
Cubs	Wrigley Field	1990	25
Blue Jays	SkyDome	1991	24
Padres	Jack Murphy Stadium	1992	23	2016 host
Orioles	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	1993	22
Rangers	The Ballpark in Arlington	1995	20
Phillies	Veterans Stadium	1996	19
Indians	Jacobs Field	1997	18
Rockies	Coors Field	1998	17
Red Sox	Fenway Park	1999	16
Braves	Turner Field	2000	15
Mariners	Safeco Field	2001	14
Brewers	Miller Park	2002	13
White Sox	U.S. Cellular Field	2003	12
Astros	Minute Maid Park	2004	11
Tigers	Comerica Park	2005	10
Pirates	PNC Park	2006	9
Giants	AT&T Park	2007	8
Yankees	Yankee Stadium	2008	7
Cardinals	Busch Stadium	2009	6
Angels	Angels Stadium of Anaheim	2010	5
D’Backs	Chase Field	2011	4
Royals	Kauffman Stadium	2012	3
Mets	Citi Field	2013	2
Twins	Target Field	2014	1
Reds	Great American Ball Park	2015	0
Marlins	Never Hosted			2017 host
Rays	Never Hosted

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BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”