3:28pm: The Athletics are nearing agreement with Lucroy, per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter).
3:14pm: The Athletics are pursuing a veteran catcher and expect to acquire one, per MLB.com’s Jane Lee (via Twitter). Specifically, the club anticipates either signing Jonathan Lucroy or acquiring Matt Wieters from the Nationals.
Lucroy remains one of the top remaining un-signed free agents. He entered the winter as the top-rated catcher available.
Needless to say, the latter possibility hints at the potential for lots of creative trade scenarios — especially given the long trade history between these organizations’ current front office leadership. The Nats owe Wieters a hefty $10.5MM salary after his poor 2017 season. At the same time, the team would surely only move him (and as much of the salary as it can) if it has an upgrade lined up.
Of course, it could be that the Nats would see Lucroy himself as a preferable option to Wieters, adding yet another potential dimension to the situation. Lucroy entered the winter emphasizing his desire to play for a competitor, after all. Washington has also long been tied to quality young Marlins receive J.T. Realmuto, though it’s not clear whether there has been any recent movement on that front.
At this point, though, the trade possibilities are all speculation.
Finally
ohhh baby…
Watch it just be a signing for Geovany Soto lol
If the Nats deal Wieters you would have to assume they’d sign Lucroy or trade for Realmuto.
Or trade for Perez.
Yeah that’s not one of the options
There is a possibility that happens though. Royals are rebuilding. Nationals have prospects.
You mean besides the fact that KC just signed 3 FAs in an effort to not tank?
Other than that reason, nothing…I guess.
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A’s send over cassilla to nationals for Weiters. Nationals would save $3.5 million after they release Cassilla. Both teams win.
Then Nats sign a catcher?
I just noticed the A’s took Jedd Lowrie out of today’s lineup so that could mean him instead of Cassilla. Lowrie could be the utility infielder who hits very well last year.
Hard to believe that the A’s would deal Lowrie for Weiters.
Matt Wieters would come cheap (Salary Dump)
Interested to see how much of Wieters’ $10.5M 2018 salary, Nats would cover.
Forgot about Lucroy… hope he returns to the team he had most success with (Brewers)
If the Nationals are able to get anything for Wieters at all, huge win for them and really capitalizing on just a few good spring at-bats. He was bad with the bat again in 2017 and continued to be one of the worst defensive catchers in the game
Braves fan here, was obviously hoping to see him hog a lot of ABs for them.. Hate to see the Nats adding by subtracting! They’re good enough.
And the Bruce Maxwell Era takes a stifling blow.
all that this tells me is the bruce Maxwell thing is not going well legally speaking..
Not sure he’s even good enough to be a big leaguer regardless of his legal problems.
Also, why aren’t Nats showing interest in Rebuilding Rays’ Wilson Ramos? Seems like a match made in heaven. Nats must miss Ramos’ production at C. He was steady on Nats.
Could be there is bad blood after the Nationals decided not to bet on Ramos recovery from an injury just before he became a FA.
Get this done and go for Cobb!!