Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy scuttled a trade to the Indians yesterday, but he’s still in play in advance of today’s trade deadline. Milwaukee has their Triple-A catcher Manny Pina up with the big league team in San Diego to prepare for a Lucroy trade, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Haudricourt further notes that Lucroy remained in Milwaukee last night, and will fly to San Diego in time for tonight’s game in the event he’s not traded. The latest:
- The Rangers are deep in talks on Lucroy, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (Twitter links). Gallo would indeed be the centerpiece, he adds.
- The Mets are now out on Lucroy, Buster Olney of ESPN.com tweets.
- With the Rangers adding Carlos Beltran, Gallo is now more available to go in a deal for Lucroy, Haudricourt tweets.
Earlier Updates
- Meanwhile, the Mets are still working on a Lucroy deal, Marc Carig of Newsday tweets.
- Even if the trade for Jay Bruce goes through, it wouldn’t take the Mets out of the race for Lucroy, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets. Milwaukee is seeking infielder Dilson Herrera in a deal, per Rosenthal (via Twitter). A package would also still include catcher Travis d’Arnaud, as has long been rumored. Perhaps that ask is what leads Jon Heyman of Fan Rag to tweet that New York’s interest is “on life support” at this time, though.
- It seems that Joey Gallo is on the table for Lucroy, as we’ve heard suggested before, but only if there’s an arm included in the deal as well, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). It’s not clear exactly what pitcher that might be, but certainly there are several relievers that could make sense, as Grant explains. The Brewers could be looking into whether a preferable deal is available involving only the backstop, Haudricourt suggests on Twitter.
- Texas and Milwaukee haven’t chatted since last night, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. He suggests it is possible that other teams could get involved, with the Astros named as a speculative possibility, though he goes on to note via Twitter that the Tigers aren’t among them. Of course, it’s also possible that the Rangers and Brewers know each others’ positions, with Milwaukee now just circling back to other organizations before making a call.
- The Rangers “keep plugging away on Lucroy,” tweets ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick, however, believes the Brewers may need to lower their expectations to get a deal done today. From Milwaukee’s perspective, though, that isn’t going to happen, per a Haudricourt tweet. The team would rather hold Lucroy for offseason trade market than sell him short of his value now, per the report. A lively game of chicken certainly seems to be set up for these teams today.
They don’t need to lower expectations, or even trade him at this deadline. Still could trade him in the offseason for as much as they can.
This is a matter of debate.
Realistically, teams are more likely to pay a premium at the deadline and this is the last deadline that a team can acquire him and still get a comp pick for him if he walks at the end of the deal.
If he’s not moved now, the Brewers pretty much have to move him in the offseason and interested teams are going to be cognizant of that. The alternative is to move him at next year’s deadline and run the risk of his value plummeting because of the lack of a QO.
Realistically, his value is never going to get any higher than it is right now. If anything, his value’s already gone down from last week with the Indians having been completely removed as a potential suitor.
It’s actually far easier to put a large package together in an off-season deal.
Furthermore, they don’t have to move him until this time NEXT year, however at that point his value will have diminished due to the fact he’ll be a rental.
Not only is it easier to put a deal together in the off-season, but there could also be more teams in the running to make a trade. Plus there’s the fact that some teams feel less comfortable trading for a catcher mid-season because it gives them no time to work with the pitching staff. He should still draw a decent return in the off-season if they do hold him that long.
I think the bigger issue on price is the reports that Texas is trying to include a reliever or Guerra in the deal. The price on pitching is way up this year so adding one of them to Lucroy is going to push the return up significantly. If Texas doesn’t make a different trade first I think they will come around yet though.
I’m with zerob on this one. But I’m thinking he’s dealt right before the deadline. The brewers have already botched this up with no help from Lucroy. His value right now is about as high as it will get.
not sure why? the fact is the brewers deadline to move him is next summer. yes the value will go down next summer with no extra years but the off-season allows more teams to compete. for teams like the Rangers the deadline clock is 4pm et. not so for the brewers.
Solid comment. Well said.
They are asking for to much I heard they were asking for Joey Gallo our number 1 prospect and our number 2 prospect along with some others.
Absolutely agree. Stearns isn’t one to trade Lucroy on someone’s else’s time (including the trade deadline). If that were the case, he would have accepted one of the low-ish offers he received on Lucroy during last off-season. Nope, Stearns has until next season’s trade deadline to get a deal done, and he’ll wait until someone gets desperate enough to send him an overwhelming offer.
If he waits until next year’s deadline his value will be much less. Even though it is easier to put together a trade in the off season teams don’t have the fever they have now. This is the most valuable Lucroy will be. In the off season it’ll be slightly less. Next deadline maybe half.
They should have traded him at this point last year.
Major failure if he is a Brewer tonight.
He was injured, hitting about .250, and moved off of catcher due to a concussion at this point last year. Last deadline and this off-season were terrible times to trade his as his value was lower than ever.
I am with Just Another Fan, Pmollan and Milleyst13 on this one.
The price for Lucroy is dropping by the minute. Perhaps the Brewers should have just asked Lucroy in the first place where he wants to play.
I hope Lucroy either doesn’t get traded and has to watch the Playoffs from home in Milwaukee, or gets traded to a contender and then loses in the playoffs to the Indians.
Why? The Indians didn’t want to play him at catcher next year, and that would have extremely hurt his value as a free agent. I don’t blame him at all for vetoing the trade.
With the amount of talented prospects the Indians were sending to the Brewers he would have been starting next year. They simply were not just handing him the job. He had a opportunity of a lifetime! Dominant starting rotation, newly acquired Andrew Miller, and most importantly a chance to play in October. Definitely his loss!
That is simply untrue. There have already been multiple reports that the Indians were not willing to commit to Lucroy starting next year. They expected him to be flexible and fill in at Catcher, 1B and DH as requested, There have been multiple reports confirming that.
Lucroy has been underpaid his entire career and is finally getting ready to get his big paycheck next off-season (2017). No logical person would accept a position with that much uncertainty and as little of an opportunity to show your worth at your primary position for the slightest chance at winning a ring with a team that he already had on his no-trade list. His decision was entirely understandable and rational.
Makes ZERO sense not to deal him now. His value is in this year’s race and next year. If you deal him in the offseason, teams are more inclined to grab a free agent or see what they have interally. Cheap all star catcher for 1 season or for 2. And don’t tell me it’s 1 1/2 season. It’s 2. For most of the teams intersted in him, they are going for it THIS YEAR.
It also makes zero sense to deal him now if they are not getting a decent return on him.
The Brewers were comfortable with getting a package of Mejia/Chang/Allen/Armstrong for Lucroy… That was roughly Cleveland’s #6/12/22/30 and the equivalent for the Rangers is Ibanez/Jenkins/Faulkner/Phillips. I don’t know any Rangers fans that would have a problem with that. But the word is Brewers want Gallo, even though Cleveland’s offer didn’t have anyone nearly that highly regarded.
Mejia may be Cleveland’s #6 prospect (and even that depends on the list), but he’s also a top 100 prospect on several lists, a guy flying through the system hitting everywhere, and at a prime position and a position of need for Milwaukee. Comparing him to Ibanez just cause they are both #6 in their respected systems is not a fair assessment.
This. Mejia was a HUGE get in the Cleveland deal. By end of season you’re likely talking about a Top 20 type prospect in baseball, given his hitting ability and the position he plays (and his age). Value-wise, getting him is about the equivalent of getting Brinson from the Rangers.
Meija > Gallo
Mejia’s not even on MLB.com’s top 100, not on Baseball Prospectus’s list, didn’t make the Baseball America cut to start the season. So he’s currently ranked 70th by Baseball America, and that’s “several lists”.
You do realize that there are more than 3 places that do prospect rankings right? Yes, those are the big 3 that everyone looks to and he didn’t make MLB pipeline top 100 (somehow) and BP only updates their top 50 at midseason. Sporting News had him in the top 100, Law I believe had him in his updated 100, etc.
Gallo is highly over rated!
We don’t know what they are being offered right now but common sense will tell you a team will pay more for 2 seasons instead of 1. So whatever thay are being offered, subtract 30 % of that value come offseason.
lol at the Brewers.
exactly…
Tell us why you’re “LoLing” at the Brewers.
….LuCroy should’ve been smart and joined a winner when he had the chance. I hope Stearns hits him with The Wire– “tell me where you DON’T want to go”…
There are 8 teams on his no-trade, that should make it perfectly obvious where he doesn’t want to go. Can’t blame him for blocking the trade to the Indians, he was looking out for his best interests.
No trade lists have very little to do with where a player wants to play. They’re about picking teams a player thinks he’s LIKELY to be traded to, so he can extract financial concessions when it happens.
Not necessarily. A limited no trade like this may include a team or two that may be a destination and can be used as a bargaining chip, with the presence of Gomes I can’t believe that was the case for Lucroy this year. (and he should have been able to update the list before the season) The Nats, Seattle, and Tigers may fall under that category Twins, Angels, A’s, Padres, and Indians seem more likely as teams he didn’t want to end up with for one reason or another.
I don’t think it’s going to matter whether they trade him in the next five hours, or in the off-season. As long as it’s before the start of next season, he comes with the QO option to the acquirer, which reduces the cost. Here’s a radical thought. Mystery team is Boston.
I just can’t understand why he’d rather remain on the Brewers (at least for now) than be on the best team in baseball with him because of the cheap contract he signed.
The main reason Lucroy decided not to accept a trade to the Indians is because of Yan Gomes. The Indians were not going to guarantee Lucroy everyday Catching duties next season – they said he would rotate between 1B/C/DH. However Lucroy thought this would hurt his longterm value at landing a big contract next offseason since he might not be considered an everyday Catcher possibly.
If this is true (and I read it too and couldn’t believe it) the Indians FO is the stupidest in professional sports.
I only saw 1 report of that, I saw NUMEROUS reports that Lucroy asked to either be given a significant pay raise for next year, or granted free agency, and the Indians said “no”.
Which one is more likely? Clearly, the 2nd one.
Actually the first one was more likely. Sure he could have wanted to negotiate more money or free agency after next season and it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he demanded it, but if he thought Cleveland was a good fit he would have eventually given in. By rejecting the offer all he’s going to end up doing is staying in Milwaukee or being traded to someone not on his list and playing under his current contract anyway. So while he may have tried for those demands there is absolutely zero financial advantage to him by rejecting the trade due to it.
Yep, it’s entirely more plausible that one report of Cleveland suggesting that he’d have to compete with an inferior catcher who is struggling is far more likely than numerous reports of Cleveland not wanting to pony up $10M extra dollars in payroll for a guy already under contract, or alternatively releasing him at the end of the year and not being able to put a QO on him… /sarcasm
Almost every single report and rumor thread I have seen has said that the major disagreement over playing time and position in 2017. If they wouldn’t commit to him catching next season then he wanted them to drop his option. USA Today, ESPN via Buster Olney,MLB.com and CBS through Rosenthal all reporting that. Where are there “multiple reports” about an extra $10mil?
Let’s say you like your job, and you like your employer, and you sign a contract with that employer for lower than market value because of how much you like that employer…
Now, your employer sells your contract to their rival competitor, whom you seriously can’t stand, and it means driving 50 miles further from home each day, worse benefits, and no pay increase… are you happy with this deal?
Nice way to put it!
The Crew don’t need to be in a rush to do anything.
The clubs that want to make the off-season have an opportunity to add one of the best catchers in the game, a reliever, and/or possibly a starter. If the Brewers were in that position, I would expect them to be aggressive in their efforts to improve the club and get a deal done.
If I’m Texas I’m reaching out to Yanks and telling them trade is McCann and Beltran and kick in 10 million and we will send you Gallo and a top 10 organization pitching prospect.
Overpay.
Sounds like an overpay, but it takes a top 10 organizational pitching prospect to get Beltran to begin with. Then you can look at it as Gallo straight up for McCann and $10M. Sure, McCann’s not that much of an upgrade over Chirinos, but he’s consistently healthy.
If you’re Texas and do that, you’d get run out of town on a rail. Why do I think you’re a Yankees fan?
Need more money… $5M if his team option vests, nothing if the Rangers exercise the option.
Keep holding on the the possibility that Gallo and other prospects will pan out. They have 1 young stud (odor) and a bunch of guys getting older or ready to leave. ( cole,beltre,desmond,moreland,feilder). Pen isn’t championship worthy, and the rotation is just as suspect after cole.
If they have a chance to get 2 offensive difference makers and go for it, and it only cost you gallo, YOU DO IT.
Where are the Red Sox on this? They have a big need for a catcher upgrade, have two young catchers to trade, young pitchers in their system, and he is under control next year?!?
Typical Sandy Alderson, not even in the mix anymore
He should be a Ranger by 4ET. Gallo is a steep price in that package but Texas needs another bat, they have a solid, although banged up rotation. Alderson sent Fulmer to Detroit for Cespedes last year, and that worked out well for both sides. With Harvey, Wheeler, DeGrom, Syndegarrd, and Matz the Mets knew he wouldn’t be in their rotation. Texas should do the same. I’m glad Alderson didn’t send Herrera, like the Brewers wanted. Gallo is steep for Lucroy, but they should get value and then some.
Well at least Texas apparently feels like I do about Joey Gallo. And that is, “How the hell is this guy a top 5 prospect in all of baseball?!” Seriously, dude Ks a ton and has a career minor league BA of .256……min 120+ triple A games he has a .223 BA….. garbage. Gallo reeks of BUST. Rangers MUST feel the same way if he is on the table for a friggin catcher.
The report says Gallo is on the table, but ONLY if the Brewers include a pitcher. No pitcher, no Gallo.
Not just a friggen catcher. A top 3 friggen catcher in the league. With that said I agree that Gallo has bust written all over him. If the Brewers felt Gallo was worthy of a top 5 prospect rating, Lucroy would’ve already been wearing a Rangers uniform.
lucroy and Guerra for Gallo, chiranos, and 2 pitching prospects.
As a Rangers fan, I’d be willing to pull the trigger on that.
Lucroy would be an upgrade at catcher, but Texas’s problems are NOT behind the plate. They need another starter or two. They began the year counting on six starting pitchers, five of whom had spent considerable time on the DL the last few years. Counting on Holland or Colby this year is not realistic. Griffin is a 5-inning pitcher,. Yu is not one to count on to be healthy and Perez had a bad July. He did well vs KC though.
If adding Bruce doesn’t take the Mets out on Lucroy, does that mean that Conforto might be added to an offer?
Well, now it says Herrera has to be in it. But the plan for him is to start at 2B next year, so idk how they feel about that.
Braves would trade either Mallex Smith or Ender Inciarte plus pitcher Brandon Cunniff to the Brew Crew for Johnathan Lucroy.
meh…. ‘big time’ meh.
Joey Gallo deserves to play everyday. If he goes to the brewers no doubt he’ll be a cubs killer. Likely brauns replacement. I could see Braun being traded to the AL this winter.
A Cubs killer?? LMFAO
30min left !
Lucroy, Davies
For
Gallo, Chi chi Gonzalez, matuella, Mendez, deshields
Why would you trade Davies??
Lucroy is going nowhere. LOL Brewers
Ummm, so? They don’t HAVE to move him.
I hope he gets traded for Gallo. can you imagine that 1b 3b combo. 80 hrs, 160 rbis avg of 215
Is Chris carter there for more than 1 year? I thought it was a one year deal. Like Fowler got with the cubs.
He is controllable via Arbitration for one more year. He was non-tendered by HOU.
Carter’s arbitration-eligible still. He’ll probably still be there
He has two arbitration years left
^ correct, my bad.
If Gallo was that good he’d be playing now. Quit acting like he’s some up and coming superstar. LOL, Brewers botched this up, good luck moving him in winter.
Ummm, no. No play is so good that they’d be playing 27 hours before the next game starts. But even taking you seriously, Gallo was called up and has played most games.