The Rangers and Jonathan Lucroy have tabled negotiations about a contract extension, the catcher tells Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link). It isn’t known whether the two sides will re-open talks prior to Opening Day or afterwards. Since many players prefer to avoid having contract talks carry into the season, it could mean that the Rangers have only a small window remaining to work out an extension with Lucroy or else he’ll explore free agency next winter.
Lucroy, who turns 31 in June, is entering the last season of a five-year, $11MM extension signed when he was a member of the Brewers in March 2012. Even with the Rangers exercising their club option on Lucroy for 2017 to add an extra $5MM to that total, Lucroy clearly far outperformed that deal by becoming one of the game’s best catchers. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes projects Lucroy as the best available position player (and fifth-best free agent overall) in terms of earning potential in his most recent Power Rankings of the 2017-18 free agent class.
Obviously the Rangers would have an interest in continuing their association with Lucroy, though there hasn’t been that much buzz about talks between the two sides. GM Jon Daniels said in late December that only some “informal” chats had taken place, and more serious negotiations had yet to begin as of just a month ago. Also, the Rangers recently signed backup Robinson Chirinos to an extension through the 2018 season with a club option for 2019. While Chirinos’ deal is modest enough that he could easily still fit as Lucroy’s understudy, it is perhaps telling that Texas has already struck a move to secure a Plan B should Lucroy depart.
It has been a very busy day for Rangers extension news, with this Lucroy item joining an agreement between Texas and Rougned Odor on a six-year, $49.5MM extension and reports of talks between the Rangers and Nomar Mazara about a multi-year commitment.
You get an extension! And you get an extension! And you get an extension! Everybody gets an extension!!!
^^^ Oprah meme
He’ll take an extension the same day Aroldis Chapman, Jake Arrieta and Carlos Gonzalez take one.
Honest question, not going to argue with you about your comment because I completely agree with you. However, if Chapman wouldn’t have been traded last year, do you think he would have taken a extension? I for think it would’ve been, “okay we didn’t trade you, here’s the deal we want to work out.” And that he would’ve said yes. Was wondering if you think he would’ve done that or if he still would have tested FA? (I’d give Gonzo a 5% chance of being extended if they’re contending mid season.)
No. He would have still waited out free agency. The Yankees tried hard to extend him before trading him and he rebuffed them every time. It was fairly obvious that Chapman and his agent had every intention of testing the open market. Even if he truly did like playing for the Yankees (which seems to be the case) they knew that worst case scenario he gets the same contract from the Yankees that he was offered midseason and best case scenario he gets even more (which is what happened).