Though "four or five clubs" approached Brewers general manager Doug Melvin at the GM Meetings last week to inquire on Ryan Braun's availability, Melvin told the other GMs that Braun isn't available, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. Melvin addressed trade rumors that have circulated around his embattled outfielder:
"We have no intentions of trading Ryan. There's absolutely no truth to that. We've never contacted any team about Ryan."
Melvin told Haudricourt that he, manager Ron Roenicke and owner Mark Attanasio had lunch with Braun last week in Los Angeles. There was no talk of trades, and his PED suspension was not a main talking point either. Rather, the Brewers brass met to discuss the upcoming plans for next season and a potential shift to right field for Braun, an idea to which Braun was open.
A shift to right field could open up some more at-bats for Khris Davis following an impressive Major League debut, though it could displace Norichika Aoki as well. Haudricourt writes that Aoki could still be used in left field at times in that scenario, however. He also adds that the very fact that the Brewers are discussing Braun's future with him illustrates the fact that he's not likely to be traded this winter.
Braun is owed $122MM over the next seven seasons, including a $4MM buyout on his $15MM mutual option for the 2021 season and two remaining annual payments of $2.5MM in 2014 and 2015 as part of the $10MM signing bonus on his most recent extension.
Hank Aaron was 6′ 180 lbs when he played, and he managed to hit 755 HR.
Willie Mays was 5’10” 170 lbs when he played, and he managed to hit 660 HR.
Frank Robinson was 6’1″ 180 lbs when he played, and he managed to hit 586 HR.
Mickey Mantle was 5’11” 195 lbs when he played, and he managed to hit 536 HR.
Ernie Banks was 6’1″ 180 lbs when he played, and he managed to hit 511 HR.
Eddie Mathews was 6’1″ 190 lbs when he played, and he managed to hit 512 HR.
That kind of blows your “the people you mentioned are rare” response right out of the water.