The Mets are interested in Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, and current Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud seems to be part of any potential package the Amazins could send to Milwaukee, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports. The Brewers rejected a straight one-for-one offer of Lucroy for d’Arnaud, so as Ackert notes, the Mets’ ability to stay competitive in the race for Lucroy’s services will hinge on the caliber of prospect New York is willing to surrender along with d’Arnaud. As of Sunday, no deal between the Mets and Brewers was imminent.
Lucroy has been speculatively linked to the Mets as a possible solution to their hitting woes, though the Mets were still thought to be looking at d’Arnaud as their catcher of the future. In my recent examination of Lucroy’s trade market, I also dismissed the Mets as a possible candidate mostly due to d’Arnaud’s presence but also due to a lack of minor league depth. While New York has some impressive prospects on hand (i.e. Dominic Smith, Amed Rosario, Gavin Cecchini, Brandon Nimmo), their system is rather thin overall.
For dealing d’Arnaud and years of a controllable top prospect, the Mets would land one of the top catchers in baseball in Lucroy. Not only has Lucroy strongly bounced back after an injury-plagued 2015 season, he has re-established himself as one of the game’s top bargains. Lucroy is in the final guaranteed year of a five-year, $11MM extension signed prior to his breakout 2012 season, and there is a team option on his services for only $5.25MM for 2017. With payroll limitations still a lingering concern for the Mets, they could be particularly eager to obtain a top-tier talent at a low price.
It wasn’t too long ago that d’Arnaud was himself a sought-after commodity, as he and Noah Syndergaard headlined the trade package sent by the Blue Jays to the Mets in the R.A. Dickey trade in December 2012. While d’Arnaud has looked good when healthy, he has been plagued by a wide array of injuries during his brief career, missing time due to varied injuries to his hand, foot, knee, back, elbow and (most recently) a rotator cuff strain that put him on the DL earlier this season. Perhaps most troubling of all, d’Arnaud has also suffered at least three known concussions. There has already been heavy speculation that d’Arnaud will have to be moved to first base for the sake of his health, so he doesn’t necessarily protect as a replacement for Lucroy behind the plate in Milwaukee.
Lucroy may not be the only Mets target on the Milwaukee roster, as the Amazins are known to be looking for relief help and have been linked to relievers Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith. Ackert reports that the Brewers were one of many teams recently scouting the Mets’ lower-level minor league clubs. This is just my speculation, but New York may be more willing to part with a top prospect in the Smith/Rosario/Cecchini tier if both Lucroy and one of the relievers could be obtained in the same deal.
hey give us one of the best offensive catchers in the game and in return we’ll give you a catcher who can’t throw people out and barely hits half the year. LOL
I agree. This is silly. Would need to come with more than one top prospect to Milw
To test the waters, why not? Teams never agree on the first offer regardless.
I’ll also remind you that D’arnaud had the 6th highest WAR at catcher last season… despite only having 268 at-bats. And he also has 3 more season of team control. He’s been plagued by injury, yes, and has been all over the place defensively at times, but I think you are criminally undervaluing him
Yes but still… a one for one? That was pretty silly to offer in the first place. “Hey, want our oft-injured catcher in return for your All-Star catcher?”
What was criminal was how easily the Royals ran on his pop gun arm of his. Anytime Cain got on base you may as well have just marked it down as a double. No thanks Mets.
The Mets door is open to acquire the bat they need for the rest of the season.
The Mets can easily move Lagares, DeAza, Rafael Montero, D’Arneaud and and one prospect (Nimmo, Dominic Brown or Herrera) and get back two of these three players… Lucroy, Jeffres, Braun.
I like this idea for both teams. Lucroy would be a great fit on a Mets team wanting to win now. d’arnaud is a good target for a long-term catching option and probably a good time to buy. Would have to include some more heading to the Brew Crew but seems to make a good start.
D’Arnaud isn’t a C long-term. I’ll withhold final judgment but Milw would need to get a whole lot more in return.
In fairness, Lucroy is probably not a C long term either. His future is probably at 1B.
With Nottingham in the system, D’Arnaud wouldn’t necessarily need to be long term.
The moment Lucroy isn’t a catcher is the day he becomes nearly worthless.
He only excels offensively because he IS a catcher.
Move him to 1b and you have a 3rd rate first baseman with no power.. (As far as first basemen go. Same thins Belt suffers from. As good as he is with the bat, the lack of power takes away from his value at first.) Just my 2c.
We’ve already seen it with Mauer
Lecroy for d’Arnaud, Flores and Gilmartin. Remember they wanted Flores in the trade that fell through.
They wanted Flores for Carlos Gomez. A good hitting catcher is much more valuable than an OF.
That’s funny that the Met’s thought the Brewers would do a straight up trade. They would need to give up some more to get that deal done.
Brewers should ask for Noah straight up now.
Exactly
Because the Mets would give up one of their best pitchers in the middle of a race for 1.5 years of someone because…?
see the comment below about it being sarcasm
Your sarcasm detector seems broken.
D Arnaud for Lucroy makes as much sense as Syndergaard for Lucroy in a 1-1 deal.
That’s funny.
I don’t think the Brewers and Mets match up. The Mets system is weak, and D’Arnaud is a secondary piece. Matz would be a better starting point. Otherwise I’d rather work with Cleveland or Texas.
I wouldn’t call the Mets farm system weak, it’s about middle of the pack now. Definitely upgraded with Rosario and Smith killing it in AA…and Justin Dunn Anthony Kay too.
Maybe this is where the Brewers finally get Wheeler and Billy Flowers?
Sandy trying to pull a fast one…have to figure Milwaukee is asking for Wheeler again…the package could be something like d’Arnaud, Cecchini, Dunn/Kay
Doubt they are asking for Wheeler again. Different GM than last year. Sterns has been trading for all younger guys.
Would d’Arnaud, Kay (1st rounder), Lindsay/Beccera get it done for Lucroy and Smith?
One for one??? I don’t know what the Mets’ upper brass was smoking today, but that must be some gooooooooooooood stuff.
D Arnaud, Conforto, and Wheeler would be a good starting point for Lucroy for the Brewers.
Get the f outta here.
Hahahahahahahahh that’s such a horrible overpay. Not even close on that package buddy. Try again
Not really. D Arnaud is damaged goods that likely can’t even play catcher anymore. Wheeler is also damaged goods that hasn’t been on a pro mound for nearly two years. Conforto would be the real headliner in this deal and it isn’t like he is something super special. Not to mention two of those players have already burned half of their team control and the Brewers are still a few years from making some noise.
If I am the Brewers I will pass on that pile of scrape. Not worth it. The value isn’t that bad, but the injuries and lack of team control is a deal breaker.
Exactly right
Tell me why would the Brewers want not one, but TWO oft-injured OLD non-prospects in Wheeler and D’Arnaud? Forget for a moment the ridiculousness of trading Lucroy f it fails three major criteria which are driving the Brewers reconstruction:
1. Compete in 2019. Those dudes will be arby eligible, Old or injured in 2019. No thanks.
2. Rebuild at all asset classes, particularly cheap asset: Overlooked dudes with some upside (Villar, Guerra, Marinez), young-ish dudes just breaking into the majors (Santana, Perez), veteran stop gaps (A.Hill, Niewenhuis), or super cheap AAAA type guys who might break out if given enough oppy (Flores, Broxton, etc.).
3. They are consistent with an organisational philosophy. Dudes like Wheeler and D’Arnaud are in total contrast to his past deals, where good MLB assets are flipped for young or VERY YOUNG, high-risk, high-upside guys (Isan Diaz, Jake Nottingham, Phillips, Betancourt, the 3 Arms he got in the Lind deal, Orimoloye from the Cards, etc…)
It makes no sense on any level for MKE to target D’Arnaud or Wheeler.
Absolutely NONE.
Wheeler is a top pitching prospect last time I checked with TOR potential. Conforto would be a coup for the BrewCrew as he’s a monster of a hitter who plays passable OF defense and, to reiterate, freaking mashes. Darnaud as a third piece makes that package just ludicrously too rich for just Luc
1. Come 2019 theyll still have wheeler conforto and d arnaud on the roster to compete. Arb eligible still comes with team control…….in case you didnt know.
Guess they should trade zach davies cause hes arb eligible come 2019, villar is arb elgible come 2018, and anyone else thats arb eligible before 2021. Great point there about the arb eligible LOL come 2019.
2. Its called a starting point. Not final sale take it or leave it. Atlanta has done nothing but build for 2019 as well. Yet their GM has talked about making a push to compete sooner like next year. Not sure of the brewers situation with that, but still gotta put fans in the seat and tossing a better product out there come 2017 2018 while letting guys develop does that.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA you know absolutely nothing apparently sammie. Let me clue you in since you seem utterly clueless.
Jonathan Lucroy has 1.5 more years of team control. In 2017 he is going to be making $5,250,000 and has been outstanding 4 of the last 5 seasons. Arguably the top catcher in baseball on one of the best contracts.
Meanwhile,
*D Arnaud has never come close to the offensive or defensive ability of lucroy and comes with only 3.5 more years of team control and has never finished more than 110 games. In fact he missed 90 something games last year and 50 something games this year..
*Wheeler comes with 3.5 more years of team control and is still recovering from tjs
*The mets have Granderson, Nimmo, Lagares and Cespedes for 2017, if cespedes opts out the 2017 FA market includes Saunders, Joyce, Jay as guys who might not receive a QO and can fill the gap until Linsay and and Becerra are ready.
But yes, an often injured and less productive catcher, a decent #2, great #3 pitcher recovering from tjs that had control issues given his high walk rates in 2013 and 2014 PRE tjs (4.14, 3.84 respectively), with 3.5 years each, and a highly touted outfield prospect in conforto who currently has no place to play and could be shoved out with nimmo, lindsay, becerra coming up plus decent 2017 and 2018 OF free agency classes is an overpay for the mets for the best catcher in the game making 5.25 mill LOL. It’s freighting how little you know sammie!
Come back when you can check facts before posting uneducated responses sammie.
“Best catcher in the game” lol
What?! No way, that’s train robbery for the Brewers.
Yeah I agree … d’Arnaud, Conforto and Wheeler is a great starting point
..
..
..
for Lucroy, Jeffress, Smith, Aricia and Hader
That’s doable. Just throw in Matz and Syndergaard.
*Arcia If you’re going to try to provide comedic relief at least spell Orlando’s name correctly.
D’Arnaud,Ninmo,SS Prospect,Gavin C. and so on for Lucroy,Braun,Smith,Garza?
Hellickson to. Marlins.
No one wants Braun or Garza’s deals.
Why do you end every ridiculous trade proposal with, “and so on?”
Ever considered a career in comedy?
lol. The Mets hung onto Wheeler this long, so I doubt they move him now. He has TOR potential and pitched injured most of 2014. Mets minor league coaches say he has some of the best pure stuff in the organization.
Travis for Lucroy was definitely a starting place. Their early numbers compare favorably, though Travis’ health is a big concern and Lucroy has been solid.
As for Conforto…he is in a sophomore slump. He still had a great eye and is a young controllable bat. There is no way he and his 6yrs of control gets moved for 1.5yr of a solid catcher.
The Brew Crew will have plenty of time to think of trade deals bc they won’t be sniffing the playoffs anytime soon.
We won’t be able to see d’Arnaud cry if he’s wearing his mask. Damn.
Perfect.
I hope D’Arnaud gets traded and the Hell out of a Mets uniform. I have him on my Fantasy team 2 straight seasons thinking he could live up to expectations, and he has let me down. Its a keeper league, I have him for peanuts, like to see if a change of venue will bring him around. I sure would hate to cut the ole boy
d”Arnaud, Wheeler and Nimmo for Lucroy and Will Smith? Think that could be around the price.
That seems a bit much lol
I think you’re undervaluing Lucroy and Smith then. I thought the Brewers fans would be complaining
That’s not a bad suggestion, but I would have to think that with Thor and Matz’s bone spurs and Harvey out for the season…and maybe more…that Wheeler would be needed for a playoff rotation. I could see d’Arnaud, Nimmo, Cecchini/Rosario, and Montero for Lucroy and Smith though.
Not Rosario. That kid is special.
Not even close. All you need to do is look at what Philly got for Giles. Mark my words. They will get a top 50 prospect for Smith alone.
I would switch Wheeler out for Rosario or smith because I see the Mets reluctant to trade their starters with Matz and Noahs bone spur concerns and you have a good deal
All of Stearns comments and his actions have shown they don’t think their window opens until 2018 at the earliest. and most likely 2019. Guys like D’Arnaud and Wheeler don’t make sense for that window. They will both be free agents by that time. As a Brewer fan Nimmo doesn’t interest me that much. I like a lot of our OF prospects better. Just not sure of how high NImmo’s ceiling is and right now for the Brewers it’s all about ceiling.
Wheeler is a free agent in 2021
Brewer fans: that’s not enough to get Lucroy
Mets fans: that’s an overpay, you Milwaukee fans are nuts
Mets fans sure love overvaluing their DL players. Acting like it is 2014 or something.
we’re not the one in a playoff push you are so yes we have that right to ask what we want if you want the playoffs
Switch the teams and you have pretty much every thread for the last month.
Maybe, but in this case there’s an objectively right answer, and the Brewers fans are correct. D’Arnaud gets the Mets 70% of the way there, but they need to add more.
Not even close. D Arnaud is a huge injury concern and cannot catch anymore. So once you move him to a different position is his offense even that special? Not really and not getting you 70% of the way to Lucroy or 50% for that matter…lucky if it gets you 33% of the way there.
Anytime two different teams start talking trade, this is what BOTH teams fans do. Perspective is completely lost, becoming completely incapable of non-bias.
If Travis d’Arnaud is the main piece in this deal, the Brewers would be better off to take the comp pick when Lucroy declines a QO after the ’17 season… what use do they have for a catcher with a bad shoulder that hits FA before they’re going to be good anyways?
Brewers Give: Lucroy and Thornburg
Mets already have set up man and closer they need that 7th inn guy/long relief if needed and Lucroy gives them playability at 1b and C.
Mets give: D’Arnaud, Wheeler, Gsellman RHP AAA
D’Arnaud is a stop gap with High Ceiling coming off injuries, Wheeler is another high ceiling player coming off injury, Gsellman is a top 15 prospect that is almost pro ready.
This is THE trade David Stearns must get right, and stop gap players aren’t the answer…. Especially injured ones.
Mets don’t have the pitching depth to trade 2 arms in a deal.
I think teams in contention like the Dodgers, Indians, and Rangers will offer the Brewers a better package for Lucroy.
Haha! These Mets’ fans packages are comical.
Piss off, Mets.
both dArnaud and Wheeler are free agents after 2019, why would be trade Lucroy for two more years of those two… needs to start with Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario for Lucroy and Jeffress/Smith
No way the Brewers are interested in dArnaud and Wheeler… both will be FA in after 2019 and we don’t hope to compete until 2018/19. Any trade for Lucroy has to start with Dominic Smith AND Amed Rosario. If Chapman (a rental) is netting the Yanks a top 25ish prospect, Lucroy is worth at least two top 100 prospects.
Hahaha
According to Tomahawk Take, David O’Brian of the Atlanta Journal Constitution stated that the Braves have been looking to trade for Chris Sale for a couple of years. However, the White Sox are looking for 5 prospects and 2 known players to get a trade done.
With the Braves having so much trouble finding a catcher, why would the Braves not be interested in trading for D’Arnaud and giving him a chance?? Would the Mets, if they can’t pull of a trade for Lucroy, be interested in Atlanta shipping both Chris Withrow and AJ P:ierzynski to the Mets for D’Arnaud?
The Mets want AJ pierzynski and chris withrow why exactly?
Are the Mets still in the playoff hunt?
They’re half a game out. Pierzynski has been terrible this year, one of the worst players in baseball, and there’s probably a dozen or more pitchers like Withrow hanging around the minors.
One catches, and one shores up their bullpen. Really not that hard to figure out
Withrow isn’t very good, and Pierznski is awful. Can’t imagine a team actually trying to acquire either.
I’d rather see the Brewers trade with the Indians. Again it would have to be a great deal. Something like: Lucroy and Jeffress, for a bunch of good prospects like, Clint Frazier, Bobby Bradley, Justus Sheffield, and Fransisco Mejia. Something like that. Truly though I’d hate to see Lucroy go, he’s given so much to the Brewers and the community of Milwaukee.
Agree 100%… The Brewers need actual prospects, not an injured catcher with 3 years of control left.
That seems like a sizable overpay imo, but it might take that size of an overpay to get a deal to work.
No way the Indians trade but frazier and bradley. I see the Rangers going more all in then they would
Don’t like it. Who would catch after next year?
What about Conforto for Lucroy? Straight up. Do the Brewers turn that down?
Lucroy is an all star catcher possibly one of the top five in baseball when healthy. I don’t see the Mets getting him for Conforto who was sent down to the minors this year and now has returned. I would think it would take at least two other pieces. Other teams can give the Brewers a better package than the Mets can offer.
yes, he is still only a prospect and not near enough for Lucroy. Conforto, D’Arnaud and Wheeler maybe. .
The Mets would never do this and the Brewers would trip over themselves trying to sign the paperwork to finalize this deal. Lucroy is a 30 year old catcher with 1 year left on his deal. Conforto is 23 and won’t be a FA until 2022. He had a great year last year for a 22 yr old in his first 60 games. Started out this year on fire and had a nagging injury that I think lead to his slump. I like Lucroy and Conforto but no way Mets do this straight up. Lucroy isn’t a hall of famer and teams are not going to empty their farm for him. I am a neutral party and its obvious Brewers fans love them some lucroy and think they should get far more than he is worth and Mets fans love their prospects and think D’arnaud is going to be the truth and he is actually a good starting point to get Lucroy. Both sides need to calm down.
Yeah but it’s not just Brewers fans who “love” Lucroy. A lot of people believe the Brewers have every right to demand a haul for Lucroy. He’s a controllable catcher for the next year and a half at a very very team friendly salary slot. He’s exactly the sort of player that can push a team deep into October. Playoff opportunities don’t come very frequently and you have to take those opportunities when they’re available. If the team that trades for him doesn’t compete next year he can be used as a trade piece to recoup any prospects they give up this year.
I don’t blame them for trying to get everything they possibly can for him he is having a great year. But I saying the people on here saying Conforto is no deal for Lucroy are nuts. If you can get a 23 year talent like Conforto for a 30 year old catcher that is playing for a team rebuilding you take that deal as soon as they offer it.
No way they do D’arnaud for Lucroy, i would have just hung up the phone when they offered that. D’arnaud is going to end up being a journey man that teams take a flyer on in off season hoping he finds a way to play 140 games in a season only to DFA him in May after he plays 15 games and bats 215. Unless he moves to 1B sooner rather than later.
If I were the Brewers I would call the Rangers and Indians.
I was thinking
D’arnaud+Rosario/Smith+Flores
For
Lucroy+Jeffries/Smith
Rosario is a top 20 prospect on many lists including prospectus and americas
I would rather deal smith but I think the brewers would ask for more. Also lucroy doesn’t like big cities he would have to accept a trade to the Mets because of his no trade clause.
This is an extremely light, irrelevant package… the Brewers are looking at 2019 at the earliest so D’Arnaud and Flores don’t fit the plan. Rosario isn’t worth Jeffries or Smith alone.
The Brewers would rather have Plawecki back in a package than D’Arnaud. A 1 for 1 deal is hilariously bad, Stearns would be fired if he approved that.