Jonathan Lucroy has finally found a new home.
The former Milwaukee Brewers catcher has been traded to the Texas Rangers with reliever Jeremy Jeffress in exchange for prospects Lewis Brinson, Luis Ortiz, and a player to be named.
Lucroy and BP arm for Brinson, Ortiz
— TR Sullivan (@Sullivan_Ranger) August 1, 2016
It’s the second time Lucroy has been dealt in a matter of days, but this time, it appears he’ll actually be going to his new destination. The Brewers agreed to deal the 30-year-old to the Cleveland Indians for an impressive package which included Justus Sheffield, later dealt to the Yankees in the Andrew Miller trade. Lucroy ended up nixing the deal, as the Indians were on his limited no-trade clause list.
Milwaukee was put in a tough position following the vetoed trade. Lucroy was shopped hard on trade deadline day, with the New York Mets, among many teams, hot in pursuit. The Rangers jumped in and offered the Brewers a package they couldn’t refuse.
What does this mean for Texas? Lucroy will help the Rangers immediately.
Lucroy’s among MLB’s best catchers. He’s a massive upgrade over the Rangers previous tandem of Robinson Chirinos and Bobby Wilson. Lucroy is a plus offensively, posting 13 home runs, 50 RBI to go with a .299 batting average and a .359 OBP in 95 games in 2016. He’s a perfect bat to fit in the middle of an improved lineup. The Rangers also swung a deal for Carlos Beltran on Monday. Throw in Adrian Beltre, Ian Desmond, and Nomar Mazara, Texas’s lineup is fearsome.
Defensively, Lucroy is fantastic. He’s nailed 40 percent of would-be base stealers this season. Part of what made Lucroy such a coveted trade deadline target is his affordability. He’s earning a prorated $4 million for the rest of 2016 and has a ridiculous team-friendly $5.25 million team option in 2017.
Jeffress is a hard-throwing reliever, who recorded 27 saves with the Brewers. He’s posted a 2.22 ERA and a 3.16 FIP. The 28-year-old’s career appeared to be in the toilet following multiple drug suspensions. Milwaukee, the team which drafted him, re-signed him to a minor league contract in 2014 and he’s since re-established himself as a late inning reliever. Jeffress will assume a similar role with Texas.
The cost for Lucroy and Jeffress was understandably high. Ortiz, a right-handed pitcher, was ranked as Baseball America’s 64th best prospect in 2016. The 20-year-old has posted a 4-6 record with a 3.48 ERA in 16 appearances (14 starts) across A+ and AA. He was a first-round pick by Texas in 2014. Brinson, meanwhile, was the 16th ranked prospect by Baseball America. The 22-year-old center fielder has displayed a great mix of speed and power in the minor leagues, as he’s posted 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 81 games, mostly in AA. His OBP is only .280, but the youngsters got enormous potential.
The deal moves the needle for both clubs. The Rangers add a much-needed catcher who should ignite them offensively and defensively, while Milwaukee gets a nice haul of prospects who should help the club long-term. Texas is all-in, while the Brewers appropriately had a fire sale. It’s a good baseball trade.
