Jonathan Lucroy Reportedly Will Be Traded to Cleveland Indians
With Major League Baseball's Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline looming, Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy has reportedly found a new home.
Continue for updates.
Indians Reportedly Agree to Trade for Lucroy
Saturday, July 30
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the Brewers and Cleveland Indians have agreed to a deal for Lucroy, pending the catcher waiving his no-trade clause to Cleveland.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported the Indians and Brewers were swapping medicals ahead of a possible trade sending Lucroy to Cleveland, and noted they were "distinct favorites."
On July 20, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney the Brewers and Indians were "in talks" for the two-time All-Star.
Olney noted the Indians might be interested in the 30-year-old Lucroy after outfielder Michael Brantley had a setback in his recovery from a shoulder injury that's kept him out since May 14, per MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
Brantley has appeared in just 11 games this year after hitting 35 home runs combined over the past two seasons.
The Indians are in need of help at the catcher position, as Yan Gomes—who was batting only .165 this season—dislocated his right shoulder, forcing the team to recall Roberto Perez from Triple-A.
While Cleveland is in first place over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central, it has gotten nothing from the catcher position:
| Player | Games | Average | Home Runs | RBI | WAR |
| Yan Gomes | 71 | .165 | 8 | 32 | -0.8 |
| Roberto Perez | 5 | .000 | 0 | 1 | 0.2 |
| Chris Gimenez | 36 | .202 | 2 | 6 | -0.9 |
Source: Baseball-Reference.com
Lucroy Held Out of Lineup
Saturday, July 30
Brewers general manager David Stearns said the team decided not to start Lucroy on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).
"He's progressing on something," manager Craig Counsell said of Stearns. "We thought it best that [Lucroy] not be in the lineup today." Counsell also noted the catcher hadn't been traded yet.
"He has not been traded. He's available to us today. I'll use him if something comes up and I have to use him. But [Stearns is] making progress, so we thought it best to not play him."
Mets Discussing Lucroy
Saturday, July 30
The New York Mets have "upped" their offer for Lucroy to include outfielder Brandon Nimmo, according to Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball. The deal would include Travis d’Arnaud, Nimmo—or a "comparable player"—and a third player, per Rosenthal.
Rosenthal reported on July 28 the Mets had resumed trade talks for Lucroy, but there's "no indication that [a] deal is close."
Lucroy's No-Trade Clause Revealed
Friday, July 29
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported that Lucroy can block a trade to the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals.
Rangers Linked to Lucroy
Thursday, July 28
Talks between the Brewers and the Texas Rangers regarding Lucroy are "alive, but not serious," according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish.
Unknown Team Interested in Lucroy
Thursday, July 28
According to Heyman, "at least one mystery team" has entered the race to trade for Lucroy.
Latest on Market for Lucroy
Thursday, July 28
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Lucroy is not in the Milwaukee lineup Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. While Morosi noted it's a day game after a night game, sources are telling Morosi that "trade talks have intensified."
Morosi's report backs up what Crasnick reported Wednesday, when he said talks surrounding Lucroy are "intensifying." Crasnick added offers are "getting more serious" and that there is "momentum building toward a trade by the deadline."
Lucroy's Offensive Talents Make Him Prime Trade Target
Lucroy was batting .300 with a .361 on-base percentage along with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 93 games heading into July 20.
The average ranks third in the majors among catchers, while his runs batted in total is second behind Wilson Ramos' of the Washington Nationals. His WAR of 2.7 is also second on the Brewers behind only Ryan Braun's.
However, Lucroy revealed to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post that the possibility the team will deal him has been in the back of his mind: "We're all human, and we all have things going on that distract us and get in our heads sometimes. And whenever you're dealing with trade talk and chatter like that, it's a distraction."
As the Brewers sit a distant fourth in the National League Central, it's clear they can't consistently win even with Lucroy excelling in the field.
So dealing him could present Milwaukee with an opportunity to acquire some young, valuable talent to build around in the future.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
