Notes: Roster Questions, Bucco & ASG Quick Reads

One very interesting roster sidebar in the next couple of weeks will not only be the trade deadline, but how the FO handles the player logjam. Cole Train, Jameson Taillon and Ryan Vogelsong are all about ready to come off the DL, along with Fran Cervelli and Stew. Some of the young guys - Adam Frazier, Josh Bell and Tyler Glasnow - have all shown well in MLB stints, and Eric Fryer looks like a big leaguer, too. In past situations like this, the Bucs have opted to take the option route rather than carry younger players, sometimes buying time via a player contracting a sudden DL-worthy "discomfort." Lots of options are on the table.

Remember him? Cole Train will lead a small squad of players back from the DL soon (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Other Bucco news and reads of the day:

• Rob Mains of Baseball Prospectus adds more evidence that Frankie - and the Pirates staff as a whole - have been hurt by a league-wide trend to look more and chase less.
• Max Axisa of CBS Sports asks every team's biggest mid-season question. For the Bucs, it's whether their pitching rotation can be straightened out internally or if they should trade for another arm. 
• Mike Podhozer of Fangraphs has calculated the BABIP overachievers so far this campaign, and David Freese is on the list.
• Steve Adam's of MLB Trade Rumors selected the handful of impactful 2016 MiLB signings, and has Matt Joyce's deal among the top ones, along with the Twinkies' signing of former Bucco prospect Rob Grossman.
• RHP Mitch Keller and SS Kevin Newman are among JJ Cooper's Baseball America  "Prospect Risers." 
• A bit of bad news in an otherwise outstanding 2016 draft - Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline tweeted that LH prep pitcher Nick Lodolo, the Pirates #41 overall pick, looks like he'll be the highest drafted player not to sign this year. His slot allotment is $1,576,000; guess the Bucs don't have enough pool money left to sufficiently sweeten the pot. Lodolo has a commitment to TCU.
• Speaking of drafts, 10 players drafted by the Bucs made their debut this tear, per Baseball America: Alen Hanson, Jameson Taillon, Jacob Stallings, Adam Frazier, Chad Kuhl, Tyler Glasnow & Josh Bell with Pittsburgh and former Bucco system pitchers Adrian Sampson (Seattle), Dustin Milleken (Det) and Brooks Pounder (KC)

 All Star Stuff:

• The ASG begins at 8PM from San Diego's Petco Park. It will be on Fox Sports with the broadcast team of Joe Buck, John Smoltz, Tom Verducci, and Ken Rosenthal. 
• NL Starting Lineup: 2B Ben Zobrist (Cubs), RF Bryce Harper (Nats), 3B Kris Bryant (Cubs), DH Wil Myers (Padres), C Buster Posey (Giants), 1B Anthony Rizzo (Cubs), CF Marcell Ozuna (Marlins), LF Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies), SS Addison Russell (Cubs), RHP Johnny Cueto (Giants)
• AL Starting Lineup: 2B Jose Altuve (Astros), CF Mike Trout (Angels), 3B Manny Machado  (Orioles), DH David Ortiz (Red Sox), SS Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox), 1B Eric Hosmer (Royals), RF Mookie Betts (Red Sox), C Salvador Perez (Royals),LF Jackie Bradley Jr. (Red Sox), LHP Chris Sale (White Sox)
• The AL has a 15-4-1 record in its last 20 All-Star Games and has won the last three. Overall, the National League has won 43 games and the American League 41, with two ties.
• Since 2002, the winning side of the ASG has earned home-field advantage for its league’s champion in the World Series.
• The first All-Star Game was held on July 6th, 1933 as part of the World's Fair in Chicago. Played at Comiskey Park, it was the brainchild of Arch Ward, sports editor for the Chicago Tribune. The game was intended to be a one-time event, but blew up into today's extravaganza.
• Giancola Stanton hit 20 homers in the final round to unseat defending champion Todd Frazier of the Chicago White Sox in the ASG Home Run Derby. The Miami Marlins slugger hit a record 61 during the contest, shattering the single-night mark of 41 by Bobby Abreu in 2005. His longest drive was estimated at 497 feet.