OAKLAND -- Amid rampant speculation that he could soon be on the move, Yonder Alonso's name was curiously missing from the A's lineup Tuesday night. Rest assured, it was for only rest purposes.
A's manager Bob Melvin said he targeted the second installment of a three-game series against the Rays as a scheduled day off for both Alonso and outfielder Matt Joyce, allowing him to counter Tampa starter Blake Snell with a righty-heavy offering.
Earlier in the day, Alonso was named the A's recipient of the 2017 Heart and Hustle Award, which "honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game," per a release by the MLB Player Alumni Association.