SEATTLE —
Baker talked with Valdez about the decision.
“He’s probably not happy with it,” Baker said. “But sometimes you’ve got to make tough decisions for the player and the team. He’s just coming off of an injury. If something happened to him again, I couldn’t live with myself.”
Romano joined AL replacements that include Seattle center fielder Julio Rodriguez and right-hander George Kirby, Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco, Houston outfielder Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Angels closer Carlos Estevez and Minnesota pitcher Pablo Lopez.
Earlier NL replacements include pitchers Kodai Senga of the New York Mets, Alex Cobb of San Francisco, Craig Kimbrel of Philadelphia, David Bednar of Pittsburgh, Corbin Burnes of Milwaukee along with Arizona infielder Geraldo Perdomo.
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Angels center fielder Mike Trout, Houston outfielder Yordan Alvarez, Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw and Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson were dropped earlier in the week because of injuries, and Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase decided to skip the game because of the imminent birth of a child.
Among other All-Stars who won’t pitch in the game are Atlanta’s Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider, the Chicago Cubs‘ Marcus Stroman, Milwaukee’s Devin Williams and Toronto’s Kevin Gausman.
