The Nationals have interest in Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy but are one of eight clubs on the 29-year-old’s no-trade list, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. That, of course, presents an immediate roadblock but does not eliminate the possibility of a trade. In such instances, players will sometimes agree to forfeit their no-trade rights for some form of incentive from the acquiring team. The Nationals themselves made a compromise with Jonathan Papelbon last July, agreeing to guarantee his 2016 option at a slightly lesser rate ($11MM instead of $13MM) in order for Papelbon to accept the trade.
Lucroy is on one of baseball’s most favorable contracts, slated to earn just $4MM this season with an equally reasonable $5.25MM club option for the 2017 season. The overwhelmingly affordable nature of that option means that a Papelbon type of situation — exercising the option in advance — probably isn’t enough, as the option is likely to be picked up even in the event that Lucroy suffers an injury in 2016. An extension beginning in 2017 or, at the very least, an extension covering the 2017 season at a higher rate, could seemingly provide motivation for Lucroy to green-light a swap between the two sides.
Recently, Lucroy took to the media to voice his desire to play for a winning club. The longtime Brewer was respectful toward the Milwaukee organization — the only one he has ever known — speaking highly of the team but plainly stating that he preferred to be on a winning club. The implication, of course, is that a trade would be best for all parties involved. In that sense, a trade to the Nationals, whom many expect to contend for the NL East or at least for Wild Card spot, seem like an appealing landing spot for Lucroy.
Extracting full value in a trade of Lucroy, however, will be challenging for the Brewers. Lucroy started slowly in 2015 and then missed a sizable chunk of time due to a fractured toe suffered in late April. He returned on June 1 and hit more like himself over the next three months before suffering a concussion in early September. That injury sidelined him for about three weeks, and upon his return, he was limited to first base duties. While he’s fully expected to catch again in 2016, the possibility of lingering concussion issues and a down season that saw him post an overall batting line of .264/.326/.391 are factors working against his trade value.
The Nats were rumored to be seeking catching help earlier this offseason, although GM Mike Rizzo responded to those rumors quickly by offering high praise for incumbent backstop Wilson Ramos. Of course, moving Ramos to a backup role, while an unfavorable outcome for the player (Ramos is a free agent after the 2016 season), would certainly serve to deepen the Nationals’ roster, and the team hasn’t shied away from stockpiling depth (or attempting to, anyhow) all around the roster this winter. Daniel Murphy and Stephen Drew were both signed despite the fact that the Nats entered the season with reasonable middle infield depth, and the team has pursued Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes despite not having a clear need at any of their respective positions. The Nats have more of a need behind the plate than they did in those spots, so a run at Lucroy certainly wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Interesting. What’s more important? Playing for a contender or money? Can’t fault him if the answer is money.
Probably doesn’t want to play in the mess of a clubhouse culture the Nationals have.
The white sox would be a nice fit for Lucroy or the Rays
I agree The White Sox for Avila and a second tier prospect to the Brewers every one wins but Sox must do a 3way by getting Either also. From the Dodgers the give the Brewers there best minor league catcher and a minor league class A prospect
Avila(who can’t be traded) and a second tier prospect for Lucroy…interesting.
The Nats aren’t contenders… They can’t win a playoff series…
I think people that actually know baseball would say winning your division 2 of the previous 4 years and having the reigning MVP, makes you a contender.
Look closer at those teams, where they really ever that good or did they take advantage of an incredibly weak division. I’d argue the latter as the Mets, Phillies, and Marlins didn’t compete in the first 3 years and the Braves were only relevant in 2013. The Nationals clearly have something wrong with them because people aren’t signing there and players are choking each other in the dugout.
So what the haven’t won a playoff series…… You might make it but the Nats find new ways to lose….. Not contenders for the winning in the playoffs.. Everyone always say they are gonna win it all yet they are choke artists….
a year ago at this time, who would have predicted the Mets and Cubs playing to see who would be in the World Series? Or the Rangers battling the Astros to win the AL West? So why NOT the Nats, who have a lot of talent.
Bc it’s the Nats… Great chokers!
we make the playoffs. if anyone chokes its your sorry braves.
how is a braves fan talking trash?
Phil Rogers came up with a crazy three team trade with the cubs brewers and rays, the cubs would get Lucroy and a pitching prospect while they give up alot of their top prospects.
That makes no sense. The Cubs acquired Miguel Montero last year and he is already signed through 2017, same as Lucroy. Which catcher is actually better is up for debate but it makes no sense for the Cubs to give up any major prospect(s) for a catcher they don’t really need.
Yea I agree , Montero is one of the best at pitch framing and plus he’s a lefty bat. I think the white sox or the rays are a good fit for Lucroy
The White Sox just acquired both Avila, and Navarro. Do they really need to use more assets for another catcher?
I don’t think the no trade clause means anything. And this is coming from a Brewers fan. Lucroy would gladly move to a winner if given that chance.
Rays make so much sense for a trade option. Send a young pitcher (other than Snell or Archer), Casali, and a mid level minor leaguer for Lucroy and another mid level minor leaguer. Rays love making low risk team friendly deals and would probably be willing to add another year. This would make the Rays legit contenders in the A.L. East with the offensive additions and excellent rotation along with Cobb and Snell coming later in the year.
The rays might be the perfect fit for Lucroy imo or the white sox
I have a hard time believing the Rays could get the trade done without including Snell. They wouldn’t be giving up even a top 50 prospect for Lucroy then. Brewers would be better off keeping him and letting him get his value up again. The Rangers and Nats could easily offer more as well but who knows what his market is like.
I think they can get the deal done without giving up Snell
I don’t but who knows. The better match is definitely Washington and the Rangers. Those guys could give up one top 50 prospect easily and still keep their prime core of prospects.
So the nationals would be willing to give up Giolito , AJ Cole or Tre Turner and another prospect for Lucroy?
No way they would give up Giolito. And I don’t think they even have to give up Turner either. They could center the deal around Robles who’s ranked 29th in BA’s latest. So the Nats could get Lucroy in my opinion without having to give up their two best prospects.
Rangers could center the deal around Brinson so they wouldn’t be giving up their best prospect in Gallo or Mazara. Both of these deals would be much better for the Brewers than what the Rays would offer without giving up Snell.
If the nationals traded for him, they might have to trade Ramos in the deal since the brewers would need another catcher then Moldonaldo.
I don’t think it’s a deal breaker either way. The brewers will suck regardless of if they have Ramos or not.
Not a chance that the Nats would give up Giolito or Turner for Lucroy. Maybe Cole. Most likely a decent but lesser prospect.
I think it’s more likely they’d be interested in one of their catching prospects (Reetz or Severino) than Ramos. Neither guys are huge prospects, but both have potential and the Brewers have no catching prospects. They can make due for now as Ramos is not a real upgrade over Maldonado and will be 35 by the time they’re looking to compete. Maybe one of their pitching prospects (obviously not Giolito) one of the 2 catchers and another lower prospect.
*31 not 35. Finger slip
That would be an awful deal for the Brewers
How much better than Cole and 2 other prospects do you expect? There are still slight concerns about the concussion. His value would trend back up if they held him until he proved he was healthy, but it’s always harder to trade catchers the further you get along because it allows less time working with the rotation.
I would want one top 50 prospect and then 1 more top 100 prospect. And then maybe a lower level prospect. Lucroy is one of the top catchers in the game whose getting paid a laughable amount. A lot of relievers make more than he does over the next two years. He’s an excellent clubhouse guy which is something the Nationals need with Papelbon there. Brewers shouldn’t move him unless they get a deal well worth it
I don’t think there’s any way they get that kind of deal with Washington. I think the return could be better if they can work a deal with the Rangers or the Astros (whom have been rumored to be interested recently). May depend on how many teams actually make a serious play for him and if that drives up the price.
Why not if you’re Washington though? You probably have three more years with one of the best players in baseball until he gets some ridiculous contract which all the major market teams will be bidding on. Stras might be gone after this year. And with the mets signing Cespedes that probably makes them the favorite. Nats should go all out these next couple of years. Lucroy would be a huge upgrade
Giolito is all but untouchable and after that they just don’t have the guys to offer that kind of package. I don’t see the Brewers having huge interest in Turner.
Robles or Turner would be a good centerpiece. I think everyone knows Giolito is an untouchable
I wouldn’t mind seeing TB get involved and make a run at something around Honeywell and Richie Shaffer. Would get a top pitching prospect and a guy who has slipped a little but should still have value at a corner IF spot but it fairly blocked in Tampa.
The Brewers would definitely ask for one of their top two prospects just because of the contract alone. If Lucroy puts up remotely similar to numbers to 2014, that contract is a complete steal and that’s not arguable. Market value for that would probably be close to if not more than $25M
There’s no way the Rays trade Shaffer. They don’t often get home grown talent with power. No reason to trade it. If they trade any offensive prospects it would probably be from a position they are back logged in, middle infield and outfield. But the Rays have already traded enough pitching so I doubt they do anymore.
I’m not sure the Brewers would want Snell believe it or not. i think a bundled package around 19/20 yo players like Honeywell and Bauers would fit the Stearns vision. Snell needs to be on the major league club this year and its futile for the Crew to start his arbitration clock ticking during the 2-3 years they won’t compete.
stearns is specifically targeting players with ’18–’19 projected arrival dates for good reason. it makes no sense for the system to trickle up talent…they need a couple of floods like the Astros and Cubs have done.
Kind of disagree with this. He’s targeted those guys so far because he hasn’t really traded anything of real value yet. Guys low in the system usually aren’t worth as much as the guys who have played well and moved up in the system. Lucroy is a star when healthy. He needs to hit on that if he traded him. Rumor was Brewers asked for Gallo in trade talks with Rangers and he’s about ready for the majors.
Lucroy is not worth snell, maybe the Rays next top pitching prospect under him, but if the Rays were to send out snell it would be idiotic, he could be a total bust but with the potential he possesses you have to take a chance on him being the star he could be instead of one or two years of a injury prone catcher who may not even preform in the AL when they have Casali, Maile, conger and Rivera for catching depth, if they send out Casali, Guerrierri and a mid level guy it’s a done deal.
So you think Lucroy who is one of the best catchers in the league when healthy and signed for a ridiculous contract of under 10 mill for 2 years isn’t even worth one top 50 prospect? Well to me that’s crazy, especially considering relievers on the trade market are getting better hauls than that. That would be an easy no for the Brewers.
I don’t think he’s worth snell despite the contract, has trouble staying healthy and who knows what injuries could linger through this year from last, I personally wouldn’t trade snell for anyone unless it’s in return for a Harper or trout, snell is a stud and Lucroy is prone to injury, I think Lucroy is worth a top 50 prospect just not snell, I don’t even think lucroys a fit for the Rays, I think he makes more sense for Texas
Replace Casali with Rivera, who knows the National league, throw in Taylor Guerrieri – done deal.
I can’t imagine the Brewers being too excited about a 32-year-old catcher who came off a really, really bad year.
I don’t know if Rivera starts over Maldonado.
What if they did the opposite? Lucroy approve a trade if they promise to decline the player option. Thus making him a free agent 1 year sooner. Obviously the Nat’s would want him for 2 years, but if they had him for 1 they could extend a QO and recoup a 1st round pick if he doesn’t want to re-sign.
All this would do is diminish the return the Brewers would get for him, which is not something Milwaukee will do
I would love to see the white sox get lucroy, I like the Navarro add as a FA. A long term solution would be lucroy. Still a lot of holes on the white sox but if they decide that they really are going to go for it lucroy would be a major piece in the right direction. At this point if they are in on fowler or Desmond and are willing to get rid of the 28th pick for either player id like to just see them go get both or neither.
Nats need a new backstop situation. Lucroy would be the perfect add. Wilson is a strong backstop but has much more of an injury concern than Lucroy. Lucroy would be an upgrade on both offense and defense. Maybe see if Braun is touchable too? Maybe package Michael Taylor?? Talking hypothetical.
lucroy isnt worth snell he is one of the pitching prospects in baseball…. a deal around odorizzi or richie shaffer with a catcher and a low level prospect should be enough
If the White Sox were “all in”, wouldn’t they have gotten someone like Cespedes by this point? Hard to find major trade partners this close to spring training.
Agree 100% with Rally Weimaraner. I think these writers write stuff cause their bored. Maybe they can’t think of anything that will draw response. The Cubs need a catcher about as bad as they need a first baseman. Not only do we have Montero, but Hill as back up. Then you can go to Swarb if needed. Sitting in the wake is our #1 prospect Cons.
All depends really on the competition. If there is really nobody else who is serious about Lucroy, the Nats can probably get him pretty cheap or the crew will just hang on to him. If others are making serious offers, that obviously drives up the prospect price.
I know Nats fans don’t want to give up the likes of Giolito, but you have to take into account that these guys don’t pan out all the time. See Stephen Strasburg and his prospect status. It’s all a matter of what the future looks like for the Nats. Would you risk another pitching prospect not panning out or bank on a Lucroy rebound?
It isn’t just Nats fans — the Nats won’t trade Giolito. He’s expected to join the rotation late this season, and will serve as an insurance starter if they can’t keep Strasburg when he hits free agency at the end of this season. “These guys don’t pan out all the time” — have you seen Giolito pitch? He’s already panned out, and the Nats have LOTS of experience bringing pitchers back from TJ surgery. Much greater risk associated with Lucroy.
I understand not trading Giolito but this is funny. He’s already panned out? What were his stats last year with the Nationals? And I mean the professional club. Or what better yet what were his stats in AAA last year?
I would love to have Giolito on my team, but he is hardly a sure thing and carries significant risk.
Matt Moore was a better prospect than Giolito and in his first 4 years he has thrown 410 IP with a 3.82 ERA and 4.05 FIP. He hasn’t been a world beater, but he is much better than guys like Bundy, Matusz, Dice-K and Joba who have all been the top pitching prospect at some point in the past 10 years.
i think the mets would be interested. maybe a lagares and a decent pitching prospect.
I doubt Milwaukee has any interest in Lagares. Especially in a return for what is arguably their most valuable trade chip. We have lots of outfield talent in the minors and some stop-gap options for the time being. There are better offers to be had than that.
I would add that what decent pitching prospect do the mets have left. Theyre not trading matz. I don’t think the Brewers would try to trade for wheeler after last year deadline debacle. Maybe if the mets still had fuller but they don’t.
I don’t see the Mets being interested, considering the fact that they already have two promising catchers.
How about a blockbuster centered around Rendon/Ramos for Lucroy/Braun?
Ramos is a downgrade and a free agent in 2017. Can’t seeing the Brewers having any interest whatsoever.
That might be a start. But I would agree that there probably isn’t any interest in Ramos. The Brewers would want more prospects and less major league ready talent in return. By the time the crew would be contending, Ramos would be a FA and Rendon may only have a few years left.
Blockbuster: Lucroy and Braun for Michael Taylor, Pedro Severino, Brian Goodwin, and AJ Cole. Taylor is a stud that can fit as the Brews everyday CF., Severino can groom into the everyday catcher while Maldonado holds down the starting role for a year., Goodwin has the potential to be a top prospect, just had a down year in ’15, and AJ Cole could break into the rotation. We could also throw in a bullpen piece like Abel de los Santos.
That is an awful deal for the Brewers
This is an awful deal for the Brewers. Taylor is not a stud, at best he’s an everyday player who K’s a ton. Severino definitely doesn’t hit enough to warrant that value you’re giving him, Goodwin would probably be lucky to be more than a bench player, and Cole isn’t that highly rated of a prospect.
If the Nats are seriously interested in Lucroy, it starts with either Giolito or Turner and they’d probably have to give a pretty hefty extension to Lucroy if he doesn’t want to be there.
You’re crazy if you think it starts with those two, and Taylor is fantastic. He has a short swing, great bat speed and both tools in the outfield. I personally think that’s light for Braun and lucroy but Taylor and Cole gets the Brewers attention. A better option might be fedde rather than Cole. Something like lucroy for fedde, Rodriguez and bostick could work but that might be light too. Throw in someone like difo if so. I think trea, giolito, joe Ross and Robles would all be untouchable in a lucroy deal from a prospect standpoint.
Teheran for lucroy
What ever you say satan…
braves13 your team won the NL East 14 years in a row & only won 1 World Series & you call The Nat’s chokers.
Enjoy your new stadium & being in last place for the next 5 years!!!!!
For the Nats to get both Lucroy and Braun, they’d have to give up a lot. Lucroy himself is being overvalued in this whole thread. He’s a great catcher, don’t get me wrong, but he’s coming off a down season that added a major injury concern. Michael Taylor for Lucroy is enough to me – 3 more years control of Taylor under a rookie contract (Arb eligible after 2017) compared to $4-5M each year for next 2 years for Lucroy during a rebuild.
Including Braun in the deal gets expensive. Braun is one of the best outfielders in the game. His contract is also not egregious (~$20M/year through 2021). It would take a hefty prospect pool to net him, but the Brewers also might be willing to part just because they’re looking to get cheaper and younger. I don’t think the Nats would dangle Giolito or Turner, but my guess is all other names would be available. Could need to be as strong an offer as Difo, Cole, Fedde, and Robles. I think the Nats need to determine if they want to really win now or keep working the depth chart. Braun would solidify the lineup and give Harper the protection he needs, so he doesn’t break the record for most intentional walks next year.
You honestly think Taylor for Lucroy is a fair deal? You realize when healthy Lucroy is one of the top 3-5 catchers in the league and signed at a laughable price. He was 4th in the MVP voting two years ago before he got hit with injuries last year. Taylor has never even hit 230 in the majors and can’t even crack a starting lineup now. Keith Law said if Lucroy is officially made available he will be the biggest name on the trade market and should yield 2-3 good prospects.
And as far as Braun goes I think you’re over valuing him based on name. He’s not the same guy he once was and if the Nats offered that package for him I am almost positive the Brewers would have taken it already. I think if you switched the packages for each you might have a deal.
It may not be as far off as you’d think. Taylor is highly regarded, even with his strikeout rate. He’s MLB-ready, is 6 years younger, will save the Brewers several million a year, and will be under control for 3 years longer than Lucroy. He has a very quick bat, which makes teaching plate discipline a whole lot easier if someone works him. It’s not unthinkable to drop his strikeout rate 25-30%. And Taylor cracked the Nats starting lineup last year. Nats need to win now and (hence the Revere pickup) and don’t have the patience for him to mature, but a rebuilding team like the Brewers have all the time in the world.
Brewers aren’t looking for MLB ready at this point. They want prospects. I think Taylor is a good player but no way Taylor for Lucroy is a fair deal. He could be a piece of the trade just not all of it or the main part of it. Nats would be way better off with Lucroy than they would be with Braun.