ESPN’s Schoenfield picks three D-backs to make 2018 All-Star game

There’s still chatter about unsigned MLB free agents training at their own, separate spring camp, but ESPN’s David Schoenfield isn’t waiting for the puzzle pieces to fill in.

He’s making his way-too-early picks to make the 2018 MLB All-Star game right now. So what if he’s got to make a few guesses about which players will perform well for which teams?

Schoenfield foresees three Arizona Diamondbacks making the Midsummer Classic in July.

He projects first baseman Paul Goldschmidt making the National League squad as a reserve first baseman once fans vote in the Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman.

That’s an easy pick after Goldschmidt finished third in MVP voting and attended his fifth All-Star game last season.

Starting pitcher Robbie Ray is expected to make it to the All-Star game for the second time after he took a leap forward in 2017. Schoenfield also sees reliever Archie Bradley making the staff as a relief pitcher — that would be assuming Bradley doesn’t get stretched out and win a starting pitching job in spring.

Bradley strung together his best season yet but did so as a setup man for Arizona. He recorded a 1.73 ERA with 79 strikeouts to 21 walks in 73.0 innings pitched.

Jumping to conclusions regarding Bradley’s role wasn’t the most prognosticating required of Schoenfield in his way-too-early All-Star picking.

He selected J.D. Martinez to the All-Star game after the outfielder slashed .303/.376/.690 with 45 home runs last year between Detroit and Arizona. But Schoenfield has Martinez on the American League squad as a designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox.

Martinez, of course, has yet to sign a new contract due to a frigid free agent market and his representatives’ contract demands.

Follow @kzimmermanaz