Former MLB All-Stars struggling most in 2017
With the 2017 MLB All-Star Game coming up in mid-July, the potential honor is far away from the minds of many struggling former All-Stars. Among former All-Stars, the following 25 players are struggling most this season.
Matt Carpenter, 1B, Cardinals
Carpenter has made a full-time move to first base this season, but he's struggled to maintain his batting average. The three-time All-Star is hitting .223-11-32 through 57 games.
Brett Cecil, RP, Cardinals
Signed to a four-year, $30.5 million contract in the offseason, Cecil has a 5.66 ERA and two losses out of the bullpen with the Cardinals. He was an All-Star as a setup man in Toronto back in 2013.
Bartolo Colon, SP, Braves
Could this be the end for Colon? The former AL Cy Young winner and four-time All-Star has a 7.78 ERA in 12 starts and has been on the DL recently.
Aledmys Diaz, SS, Cardinals
A surprise rookie performer and All-Star last season, Diaz has regressed in his sophomore season. He's hitting just .258-6-16 with an OPS that has declined by more than 180 points.
Alcides Escobar, SS, Royals
An All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2015, it's difficult to imagine a worse start to Escobar's season. The shortstop is hitting only .180-1-16 with 6/54 BB/K in 62 games. To make matters worse for Escobar, he will be a free agent following the season.
Todd Frazier, 3B, White Sox
Frazier's batting averaged dwindled to .225 last season, and that apparently wasn't a fluke. He's hitting just .217-10-31 this season through 54 games. It's a huge decline for a player who has made two All-Star teams.
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Dodgers
Gonzalez has only one home run in 49 games as he fights through a herniated disc in his back. He's a five-time All-Star, last being named in 2015.
Alex Gordon, OF, Royals
Gordon has struggled through injuries since 2015, and he's hitting rock bottom this year. His batting average is down to .181 with only two home runs through 55 games. Gordon made three consecutive All-Star appearances from 2013-15.
Matt Harvey, SP, Mets
Returning from thoracic outlet syndrome, Harvey has pitched even worse than he did last season. Harvey has a 5.02 ERA in 12 starts and has been unable to keep the ball in the park. He was an All-Star in 2013 prior to Tommy John surgery.
Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners
Hernandez has made only five starts this season due to shoulder trouble and holds a 4.73 ERA. He's missed more than one month with said shoulder injury. His streak of five consecutive All-Star appearances came to an end last season.
Jonathan Lucroy, C, Rangers
After hitting a career-high 24 home runs and making his second All-Star appearance last season, Lucroy is off to an especially slow start. He's hitting just .260-4-16 through 47 games.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
McCutchen's offensive production declined last year, and that has continued this season. He's hitting just .251-9-32 with six steals through 62 games. McCutchen made five straight All-Star appearances from 2011-15.
Brandon Moss, DH, Royals
Moss continues to flash power with nine home runs in 42 games, but he's hitting just .181 with a .656 OPS for the Royals. A three-time 20-plus home run hitter, Moss made the AL All-Star team with Oakland in 2014.
Hunter Pence, OF, Giants
Pence was one of the most durable and consistent players in baseball through 2014, when he made his third All-Star team. Since then he's struggled with injuries, and he's hitting just .239-3-20 in 45 games this season.
Jhonny Peralta, 3B, Free Agent
A three-time All-Star, Peralta was designated for assignment by St. Louis after hitting only .204 with no home runs or RBI in 21 games and subsequently released. He also struggled last season after a thumb injury.
Yasiel Puig, OF, Dodgers
Puig has shown flashes this year, but he's hitting only .234-9-31 through 60 games for the Dodgers. The Cuban outfielder made the NL All-Star team in 2014.
Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Tigers
K-Rod was removed from the closer role earlier this season and has a 6.53 ERA in 23 appearances for Detroit. He's a six-time All-Star, earning the honor as recently as 2015.
Danny Salazar, SP, Indians
Salazar is on the DL with a shoulder injury after getting demoted to the bullpen. He had a 5.40 ERA and 11 home runs allowed in 55 innings prior to the injury. Salazar made his first All-Star appearance last year.
Masahiro Tanaka, SP, Yankees
Tanaka's ERA is above 6.00 through 13 starts, as he's been unable to keep the ball in the park with 18 home runs allowed already. Tanaka made an All-Star appearance in his rookie season in 2014.
Julio Teheran, SP, Braves
Expected to be Atlanta's ace in the first year at SunTrust Park, Teheran has a 5.08 ERA through 13 starts. He's made the NL All-Star team in two of the last three years.
Chris Tillman, SP, Orioles
Tillman started the year on the DL with a shoulder injury. Based on his results through seven starts, he'd probably like to take another break. Tillman is 1-4 with an 8.01 ERA. He made the AL All-Star team with Baltimore in 2013.
Stephen Vogt, C, Athletics
Vogt has made All-Star appearances in two consecutive years, but it's unlikely that he will make it three after his early season. He's hitting only .226-4-17 in 47 games.
Tony Watson, RP, Pirates
Watson ended last season as Pittsburgh's closer but was finally removed from the role recently. He has a 4.13 ERA in 26 appearances. The lefty made an All-Star appearance in 2014.
Travis Wood, RP, Royals
Wood signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Royals late in the offseason, but his performance early this year has been deplorable. He has an 8.31 ERA and 17/17 K/BB in 20 relief appearances. The lefty made the NL All-Star Game with the Cubs back in 2013.
Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Tigers
After struggling in his first season with Detroit in 2016, Zimmermann has been even worse this year. He has a 5.72 ERA in 12 starts. Zimmermann made the All-Star Game with Washington in 2013 and 2014.
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