Aug. 7: Lucroy has cleared release waivers, the Angels announced. He’s now a free agent and can sign with any team for the prorated league minimum.
Aug. 5: The Angels announced today that they have requested release waivers on veteran backstop Jonathan Lucroy. He had been designated for assignment recently.
Any team can place a claim on the veteran backstop, stepping into his contract rights if awarded. The order of priority is based upon inverse record, without reference to league.
Lucroy, 33, is guaranteed $3.35MM this season, so it’s far from certainly any team will choose to take on the remainder of what’s owed. But that’s the surest way to gain control over a player during the month of August. If Lucroy clears waivers, interested orgs will be competing for his services based upon opportunity and any other considerations he values (location, for instance).
While Lucroy struggled badly at the plate with the Halos, sporting an ugly .242/.310/.371 batting line, he remains a trustworthy veteran receiver. For a team that needs depth, an improved backup situation, or a temporary replacement, there may not be a better option.
inside source
Cubs should look into him.
todd76
I remember when this guy was one of the top catchers in MLB. That wasn’t even too long ago.
lowtalker1
Went from the hitter park in Milwaukee to the launch pad in Texas and was never the same. That’s why I didn’t think to highly of the marlins old catcher now with the Phillies
DarkSide830
JT is still one of the best hitting catchers in baseball but okay. just because a guy doesnt improve when he moves to a more hitter-friendly park doesn’t always mean he has fallen off.
bigdaddyt
Then it’s good that you remember it
jorge78
I think he got old too soon.
didi gregorious nose
Man he was a doubles machine.
Nick Stevens
He’s 33 now. This is when hitting skills decline.
lazorko
I know the Cubs are desperate here, but a tip from an Angels fan…his defense is really awful now.
CJML
He would be a backup to the backup for a month. Right now they have a 29 year old minor leaguer
Geno55
Lucroy wasn’t framing pictures very good any more he was getting a little lazy behind home plate all fingers point to Billy eppler he hired Brad Ausmus he’s made all these Disaster free agent deals
Geno55
I noticed Lucroy was gun-shy on a play to home plate the throw beat the runner and Lucroy hesitated and the Run scored after the Collision with Marisnick Lucroy will never be the same
Nick Stevens
Pitch framing is such a b.s. analytical stat.
robluca21
Then why do major league front offices all see intrinsic value in it ?
Do you know more than all of the front office personal of every major league team ?
its_happening
Two words: Russell Martin.
Very good at framing pitches, numbers in 2015 and 2016 may not reflect that because of his time catching RA Dickey. Sometimes the pitcher can be a catcher’s worst enemy when it comes to pitch framing.
Nick Stevens
I remember when batting average mattered too. And stolen bases. But let’s invent something else ridiculous that will be irrelevant in about 5 years when they come up with some new analytic.
Mikel Grady
160k , Cubs should take a chance
mt in baltimore
That’s a “fine how do you do??” from the Angels… that guy was almost maimed in that play by the asshat on the Astros…
Are you kidding me???
billwood23
How bout requesting release waivers for Brad Ausmus?? How many more games does he need to see that openers don’t work and Upton can’t hit 3rd or 4th in the line up
mikechouinard
Maybe they can trade Ausmus? Maybe get a toaster oven.
ryanw-2
The Brewers and Rays disagree with you. Angels also have a winning record when using openers.
angelsinthetroutfield
Is it just me or are there a disproportionate amount of Halo fans who spew the same tired “fire Ausmus/Eppler!” or “It’s Arte’s fault cause he’s cheap!” rhetoric?
costergaard2
Yankees 8-0 using openers…
John Luke
Perpetual Angels trolling.
robluca21
The Yankees are 9 – 0 when deploying an opener this season… maybe it’s the players not the manager ?
YankeesBleacherCreature
Yankees are actually 10-0 in games using an opener. Having a really good bullpen helps.
Stevie E. B.
Yanks should…get ready for ALCS with the ‘stros…
pasha2k
It should be a terrific series, but I do hope the Evil Empire loses!
Jerryred
back to the rangers Mathis is a horrible hitter
AngelDiceClay
Mathis a horrible hitter? Please back up your statement with stats. Lol
mikechouinard
Mathis BA 2019 .168 Career .196 lol!
robluca21
Yeah but hes a top 5 defensive cat ch er in baseball..actually he might be the best defensive catcher overall
afsooner02
Brewers should resign him for 2020. Grandal is gonna walk and pina blows. Lucroy would at least be a decent #2 catcher for us.
mvfreep
We will take him over passed ball a day Flowers.
A-A
He’d be a great Braves pickup. One injury away from starting and certainly up in Sept and in a 3 man race for the playoff roster. That’s why I think a team higher in the waiver line will pick him up.
BravesNomad
While I generally agree, he’s the rub….Flowers has 8 passed balls, Lucroy has 7. Although Lucroy has 26CS% to Flowers 23%
bradthebluefish
Come to the A’s!
Spezio4theW
I lost count of the times that a runner on first got to 2nd or 3rd on a “wild pitch” that Lucroy lost between his wickets. I used quotes for “wild pitch” because how can it be a wild pitch when you CALLED FOR THE PITCH? Worst catcher I’ve ever seen on the Angels.
HaloShane
You know your team is garbage when Kole Calhoun is batting 3rd….
Nick Stevens
Jon Jay batting 4th is the biggest disaster in the history of baseball.
TribeGuy 2
Remember when he vetoed a trade to the Indians in 2016. He overplayed his hand and has never come back from this decision.
GareBear
Because his bat would have played SOOOOO well at first base, right?
Polish Hammer
Who said anything about 1B? He insisted on knowing he was going to be the primary catcher and they couldn’t promise that. If you produce you get the job, if you don’t and they can move you you’re aligned just like Gomes was. So glad this clown decided to roll the dice of luck and crap out.
Santee Alley
Yeah man… catchers who get released do not make worthwhile first basemen.
chicagosportsfan1
he would be a great backup on the a’s
zuma
The A’s don’t need a C. Phegley will be back in a week or so, Hermann and Garneau are capable backups, and Beau Taylor can be brought up from AAA if necessary.
jaymrn4900
Red Sox should gamble on him. Leon can’t hit his weight !!
Bruce Gross
.242 is a bad BA for a catcher?
He’d be an upgrade over Andrew Knapp, the Phils back up catcher. Knapp, is hitting .202 with 1 hr and just the other day was hitting like .179. JT could use a few days off down the stretch.
robluca21
Who cares about batting average . That’s such an elementary way to evaluate a hitter
robray15
Taking into account how many hits a player gets per at bat is an elementary way to evaluate a hitter? What?
AndyMeyer
Anybody but Knapp
g-dub777
Jon Daniels……do something smart……Lucroy is @ .242 ……… your catchers Mathis is @ .168……. your recent call up from AAA, Trevino is @ .200
Any questions????
csamson11
The Cubs almost have to go after him.. Pretty hard to justify going a month or more with Taylor Davis as your backup catcher in a neck and neck playoff race.
TradeAcuna
He can’t be worse than Flowers!
Polish Hammer
A cautionary tale on going for the unknown door #2 over what you already saw in the box.
Karma
jorge78
What!!?? Huh!!??
bucknerkingmansutter
He’s already a Cub according to Jon Heyman…