Jonathan Lucroy SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts during the 87th Annual MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Update: Jonathan Lucroy has reportedly exercised his no-trade clause, nixing a deal to the Cleveland Indians.

Lucroy’s decision is a puzzling one on the heels of the deal which sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland. Teams who believed they had missed out on a top catcher will now ramp up their efforts again to try and negotiate a deal with the Brewers.

Original Story:

The Cleveland Indians (59-42) may have the best record in the American League, but they also have two glaring weaknesses. They addressed one of those late Saturday night by trading four highly thought of prospects to the Brewers for two time All-Star catcher, Jonathan Lucroy.

The two holes in the Indians roster are in late relief and behind the plate. Indians catchers Yan Gomes (currently on the DL with a separated shoulder), Roberto Perez, and Chris Gimenez have added up to a -1.2 fWAR, the worst in all of baseball. Perez has been hurt most of the season, but Gimenez has never been much more than a AAAA player throughout his surprisingly lengthy career. With Gomes out for the considerable future, the Indians offensive problems behind the plate are considerably more significant than any other aspect of the team.

Lucroy, assuming he waives his no trade clause, would completely turn that situation around. Instead of a -1.2 WAR, Lucroy has been worth 2.8 so far this season on his own, contributing positively both offensively and defensively. In 94 games, he has 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 runs, 50 RBI, and a .300/.360/.484 line. Considering that Lucroy has not only this season under contract, but an extremely team friendly club option at $5.25M for next year, it isn’t surprising that the Indians would have to pay a kings ransom for him, even if the only real competition for the catcher was the Mets.

The group Cleveland sent back to Milwaukee included four players, all ranked in the recently published top 30 prospects in the Indians system. They are #5 prospect Justus Sheffield, #6 Francisco Mejia, #12 Yu-Cheng Chang, and #22 Greg Allen, all of whom (except Allen who was recently promoted to AA Akron) were currently playing for the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats.

While the catcher Mejia is likely the only player of the group known nationally after starting in the Futures Game for the World team, Sheffield is considered the Indians #2 pitching prospect according to MLB.com. He is a left hander who throws hard and has tremendous MLB potential.

Allen is the most unknown player involved in the deal, but has 140 steals in 240 minor league games and was batting .298 in high A before his promotion. Chang is a shortstop who may eventually fill out at third base. As someone who has seen all four play a considerable amount, Chang is the least likely to be an impact player in the majors, but all are a good bet to at least make it to the show at some point.

For the Indians, who are already seventh in baseball in runs scored, this means an instant improvement in their offense, taking away a nine hole hitter who was generally pinch hit for late every game and replacing him with a strong, middle of the line-up bat. With a possible addition of Michael Brantley still to come this year, this should put the Indians offense on par with any other in baseball, a great compliment to their already incredible starting pitching.

There is one last barrier to break through, as Lucroy has a partial no trade clause with Cleveland listed on it. With this as a bargaining chip, it is conceivable that Lucroy could ask the Indians to buy out his no trade clause or he could simply waive it to play for a top contender in the AL. The two could also try to work out an extension that could increase Lucroy’s meager guarantee for 2017 and add on a few years, especially considering that the Indians sold their future catcher in the process of acquiring Lucroy.

That is a thought for the future, however, as for the first time since ensnaring Ubaldo Jimenez from Colorado, the Indians are selling prospects for a better chance at winning today rather than obtaining them for a chance to win tomorrow.

About Joseph Coblitz

Joseph is the primary writer and editor of BurningRiverBaseball.com and has been since its inception in 2011. He also writes for The Outside Corner and the Comeback and hosts the Tribe Time Now podcast. He is a graduate of the University of Akron and currently resides in Goodyear, Arizona the Spring Training home of the Cleveland Indians. Follow on twitter @BurningRiverBB