Ceddanne Rafaela didn’t have a particularly impactful All-Star Game performance. But he did get a chance to reconnect with one of his baseball heroes and mentors. Fellow Curacaoan/defensive genius Andruw Jones was also in Philadelphia, and the two met up and talked for well over an hour. “I like everything I see,” Jones said of Ceddanne. “It’s hard to compare people to other people. It’s hard to compare to Ken Griffey Jr. It’s hard to compare to Willie Mays. It’s hard to compare to any great center fielder out there. I like what I see. He’s gonna be a great one.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Ceddy wasn’t the only Red Sox player who had a chance to connect with his countrymen in Philadelphia. When Aroldis Chapman entered the game in the ninth inning, he represented the seventh Cuban to play in the game, which broke a record. 25% of all Cuban big leaguers made it to the All-Star Game, compared to just 5% of big leaguers overall. “Happy and proud to be part of this group,” Chapman said. “That means a lot for us, and also talks about the season the Cubans are having and we are having. Hopefully next year, we get to break the record and bring even more.” (Anthony DiComo, MLB.com)
A few weeks ago, it looked certain that Chapman’s time in Boston would soon be coming to an end. But after a 14-2 run to pull themselves back into the postseason picture, talk of the Red Sox selling at the trade deadline has all but ceased. Now the players are sending the front office a clear message: it’s time to buy. “I believe [Breslow] and everybody in the front office will go out there and get what they think we’re missing,” said Rafaela. “Personally, I believe in the whole group and I believe in what we have. Of course we want everybody to stay together at the trade deadline.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Chapman could have a new (old) bullpen mate soon. Tommy Kahnle, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Sox just a few weeks ago, has re-signed with the team. He’ll head to AAA for now. (Chris Mason, MassLive)
So Kahnle may return to the Fenway, but what all about all the players recovering from injury? This notebook contains a rundown of injury news. Trevor Story is “progressing from sports hernia surgery more quickly than expected,” but none of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, or Isiah Kiner-Falefa are swinging bats yet. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Even had the team still been on the path towards selling, they might not have been able to trade Willson Contreras, who has a no-trade clause and is prepared to use it. “The front office knows the answer,” Contreras said when asked if he’d refuse a trade. “I don’t think I’m interested in going anywhere.” (Peter Abraham and Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
