From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser at Citi Field

A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes told me today that he plans to participate in the Home Run Derby during All-Star Weekend at Minneapolis next month in an effort to defend his title in the event. “I want to,” he said in English. “It’s my choice.”

Oakland general manager Billy Beane had hinted before the season that the team might not be wild about Cespedes taking part in the event again; Cespedes missed time with a wrist injury in the wake of last year’s Home Run Derby.

Beane said today via email that “it is safe to say none of us are anxious to see him defend his title. It wouldn’t upset anyone if he pulled a Rocky Marciano and ‘retired’ undefeated. Then the next century, everyone could debate if he is the greatest Derby champion of all time. Ultimately, it’s his decision.”

Manager Bob Melvin told me today that he gets why teams often have concerns about the event, but, Melvin said, “It’s his decision, we understand that. And it was entertaining. But there’s always some trepidation whenever a team has a player doing that.”

Over the years, several clubs have felt as if players who participated in the Home Run Derby have seen their production dip after the event, the “home-run swing” problem – a belief players start swinging for the fences too much after the Derby. Among players who saw a drop in power after the event: Ken Griffey Jr. in 2000, Albert Pujols in 2003, Bobby Abreu in 2005 and Lance Berkman and Josh Hamilton in 2008.

Cespedes last year hit .225 with 15 homers in 79 games before the break, .261 with 11 homers in 56 games after the break, so his post-break numbers weren’t affected adversely. He did have that wrist injury after the event, but at the time, the team didn’t believe there was any connection with the Home-Run Derby because it didn’t crop up until batting practice after the break. He hit 32 homers to win the event, which took place here at Citi Field.

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Melvin said that Craig Gentry (knee) and Derek Norris (backswing to the head) are both available tonight, and that Norris will start the first game at Miami.

Gentry told me he’d been playing with some knee soreness that hadn’t affected his play but was difficult to play with. He feels great after a cortisone shot on Sunday.

Here’s the lineup: Crisp CF, Jaso C, Cespedes LF, Moss 1B, Donaldson 3B, Lowrie SS, Reddick RF, Callaspo 2B, Mills P.