The Athletics’ trade deadline strategy just got blown up, with All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers going on the injured list after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee. This injury could sideline him for the rest of the season and throws a huge wrench into what was already going to be a tough deadline for Oakland.
Oakland’s Deadline Disaster
Langeliers was having the best season of his career, plain and simple. He was crushing it at the plate, batting .263 with 23 home runs, 51 RBIs, and an .829 OPS in 93 games. Those are numbers that get you noticed, especially when your team is sitting at 44-60 and in fourth place in the AL West, clearly signaling they’re going to be sellers at the August 3 Trade Deadline. Langeliers was expected to be one of the most sought-after players on the market, a huge piece to move for future assets. Now? That’s all gone. The injury effectively takes him off the trade market, and while trading him was never a lock, this takes the decision completely out of the front office’s hands. They’ll have to completely reevaluate which other players they’re realistically willing to move. Talk about a brutal curveball right before the deadline.
Mets Lose All-Star Soto (Again) While Boston Gets Good News
Across the league, the New York Mets are dealing with their own injury headache, placing slugger Juan Soto on the 10-day injured list Saturday for a left calf strain. This isn’t Soto’s first rodeo with this specific injury; he missed 15 games with the same problem from April 3,21, and the Mets were a dismal 3-12 without him during that stretch. He showed discomfort running to second base during Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Dodgers after walking twice against starter Rōki Sasaki and eventually got replaced by Jorge Polanco in the sixth inning. Soto, who is the Mets’ lone All-Star this year, has been productive when healthy, hitting .293 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs in 84 games. The Mets had been trying to manage his return, with Soto sitting out Wednesday’s 4-3 loss at the Brewers, returning Friday, and playing various positions and DH roles after exiting their first post-All-Star break game on July 16. To fill the void, the Mets called up Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse, though Wagaman’s .162 average, two homers, and four RBIs in 21 games aren’t exactly going to light up the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, there’s some good news for the Boston Red Sox as All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez is expected to come off the injured list and start Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. Interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed the plan Saturday, saying, “Ranger should be good to go for [Sunday]. We have him scheduled to start the game.” Suárez, 30, was placed on the IL July 9 with a strained left groin, missing the All-Star game. He was seen throwing on the field just hours before Saturday’s game, a welcome sight for Red Sox fans.
What’s next for these teams? The A’s have to navigate the Trade Deadline without their most valuable chip, making their fire sale even more complicated. The Mets will hold their breath, hoping Soto’s calf strain doesn’t turn into another extended absence, especially with their previous struggles without him. For Boston, getting Suárez back on the mound Sunday is a much-needed boost, hopefully signaling a healthier rotation moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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