Inbox: How would trade affect Toronto at ASG?

If J.A. Happ is traded before the All-Star Game, will another Blue Jay take his place or would they be left without an All Star?

-- Serge T., Laval, Quebec

There's no hard-and-fast rule for how Major League Baseball handles this type of situation. Instead it is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and there are a lot of factors that come into play. The league would work with various parties to find an acceptable solution, and while Happ's predicament is a bit unique, there are precedents.

In 2014, right-hander Jeff Samardzija was traded from the Cubs to the A's. Samardzija was deemed ineligible to participate in the game but he was still recognized as a National League All-Star. It's worth…