With Phase 3 of the offseason program soon to begin in most NFL cities, the chances of a player injury will increase. Of course, the injury risk already was there during the less intense portions of the program.
The same can be said for LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 32) and Marc Gasol (No. 33). Aldridge has carried a heavy workload for much of his career and is set to enter his 13th NBA season, while Gasol is set to turn 34 in the middle of next season.
Like Gasol, Paul Millsap (No. 64) is another former high fantasy pick who is set to turn 34 next season, as he enters his 13th season in the league.
There is no need to do it, Judge said Tuesday when asked about defending his title.
Judge was hitting .329 with 30 homers and 66 RBIs at the 2017 All-Star break, then batted .179 with seven homers and 16 RBIs with 67 strikeouts in his next 44 games through the end of August.
Judge finished the regular season with an AL-leading 52 home runs.
When asked in spring training if the post-Derby slump would impact his decision to avoid the event, Judge shook his head.
The Derby wasn’t even that big of a toll, to be honest, he said. “It’s just like taking BP. It really wasn’t too taxing. I wasn’t trying to swing 110 percent, I was taking a normal 80, 90 percent swing, trying to make contact.”
The Chargers signed Virgil Green to a three-year, $8.6 million deal this offseason to serve as the team’s blocking tight end. Sean Culkin, Ben Johnson and Cole Hunt are the other tight ends on the team’s 90-man roster, so depth at that position is an issue.