2013 MLB All-Star Snubs: Biggest Whiffs on Rosters for This Year

The 2013 MLB All-Star rosters were almost fully disclosed on Saturday evening—save for a last-minute vote for one final spot on each squad. Some still have a chance to be bailed out by fans, but others won't be so lucky.

It's hard to have many qualms with the National League roster, because it seems they got it pretty much right. However, there is one recently hot star in particular that should be considered a snub, along with a couple others on the American League side.

Below is a breakdown of three players who should have been given the chance to play on July 16's game in New York's Citi Field.

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Oakland Athletics

The frugal A's don't get all that much love, and Donaldson is no exception to that. The promising third baseman has had a stellar 2013 campaign, but is not being rewarded with an All-Star distinction.

Donaldson is eighth in the AL with a .317 batting average—just one point behind superstar starter Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.

What's also been noticeable is Donaldson's improvement in the field. In 71 games last season at third base, he made 12 errors, but has just seven in 85 contests thus far at the position.

Houston Astros hurler Travis Blackley certainly didn't agree with Donaldson's absence from the team:

Oakland is in first place in the American League West division, and Donaldson is a massive contributor to the club's success. It's shocking enough that only one Athletic made the AL roster, but to snub Donaldson seems ridiculous.

Matt Moore, P, Tampa Bay Rays

In a division with traditional powerhouses in the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, it's sometimes easy to overlook the Rays.

However, what Moore has been able to do at the age of 24 this year shouldn't be taken lightly. Moore has a 12-3 record thus far with a respectable 3.42 ERA.

The most impressive part of Moore's 2013 season has been his ability to bounce back. After starting off 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA, he was shelled in three consecutive starts—all of which were losing decisions.

Since then, he's responded with four starts of six or more innings and hasn't allowed a run to cross the plate in each of his past two appearances. All four resulted in wins and got his potential Cy Young campaign back on track.

The Rays' official Twitter provided an interesting statistic, emphasizing the snubbing that Moore endured:

It was ironic that on Saturday evening, Moore out-pitched Chicago White Sox pitcher and All-Star selection Chris Sale in Tampa Bay's 3-0 victory. As young and talented as the southpaw Moore is, though, he should get far more opportunities to be displayed as one of the MLB's best.

Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds

As hinted at previously, it's hard to argue against the National League's choices other than possibly Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, though he did drive in three runs in his team's 5-4 win on Saturday.

Bruce doesn't necessarily have gaudy numbers overall, but he's been on the uptick as of late. After batting just .252 in April, he kicked it on in May and June, hitting in the .290s in each of those months.

A mini-slump occurred for him recently, which probably cost him some votes. Funnily enough, on the night he was snubbed from the NL All-Star roster, he snapped his 0-for-14 drought, driving in three runs and scoring four times in the Reds' 13-4 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Teammates Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are starting in the infield for the NL, which also hurt his candidacy, as did the 105 strikeouts Bruce has already racked up.

A keener eye at the plate might help in the future, but Bruce's 59 RBI are only second on the Reds to Phillips' 64, and his 18 home runs lead Cincinnati and are good for sixth in all of baseball. Needless to say, it will be hard to deny Bruce an All-Star bid in the coming years.