JULY 31: MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo reports that right-hander Shawn Armstrong is also a part of the proposed Lucroy package (Twitter link). The 25-year-old has risen through Cleveland’s minor league ranks and posted gaudy strikeout totals along the way to serving as the closer for the Indians’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliate in recent seasons. Armstrong reached the Majors for the first time in 2015 and has an inning there in 2016 as well. In total, he’s yielded three runs with an 11-to-2 K/BB ratio in nine big league innings, and he has a 2.46 ERA in 95 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. Armstrong does struggle with his control, as evidenced by the fact that he’s walked 5.7 hitters per nine innings in his time at Triple-A. However, he’s also averaged 13.7 strikeouts per nine at that level and comes with a career 12.1 K/9 rate in the minors.
JULY 30, 11:08pm: Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports tweets that top catching prospect Francisco Mejia would head to the Brewers in the deal. Rosenthal tweets that shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang and outfielder Greg Allen are going to the Brewers as well, if he approves the trade.
11:00pm: The Brewers will get a fourth player as well, per Rosenthal, though the fourth prospect is of lesser quality. The trade will be four players going to Milwaukee in exchange for Lucroy. No others will be going to Cleveland, despite previous rumors of the Indians’ interest in Milwaukee’s relief corps.
10:48pm: The Brewers and Indians have reached an agreement on a trade that will send Jonathan Lucroy to Cleveland if Lucroy will waive his no-trade clause to approve the deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Rosenthal adds that Milwaukee will receive three players if the trade ultimately goes through. Lucroy has spent his entire career with the Brewers since being selected in the third round of the 2007 draft, so the decision almost certainly presents him with some mixed feelings. However, Lucroy has stated on multiple occasions this year that his strong preference is to play for a contending club, and the Indians certainly fit that bill at the moment, as they hold a 4.5 game lead over the American League Central division.
The 30-year-old Lucroy represents a massive upgrade to a Cleveland catching corps that has been the least productive in baseball this season. Indians catchers Yan Gomes, Chris Gimenez and Roberto Perez have provided sound defense this season but batted a combined .168/.215/.289 on the year, which has more than mitigated the group’s defensive work. Beyond that trio’s lack of production, Gomes is currently sidelined by a separated shoulder which, as of July 18, was expected to keep him on the shelf for four to eight weeks. Getting Lucroy from Milwaukee would give Cleveland a backstop that has slashed a brilliant .300/.360/.484 with 13 homers, 17 doubles and three triples on the year, quieting any concerns about his ability to rebound from a concussion sustained late in the 2015 season.
In addition to his terrific work at the plate, Lucroy is among the game’s best behind the plate as well. He’s halted 40 percent of stolen-base attempts against him this season and has long graded out as one of the game’s best pitch-framers, per Baseball Prospectus. Their metric has him in the midst of a down season in terms of stealing extra strikes for his pitchers, though even a “down” season for Lucroy simply means he’s been about average in that regard. And beyond his on-field performance, Lucroy is valuable in that he is eminently affordable; he’s earning just $4MM in 2016, and a $5.25MM club option for the 2017 season only adds to his allure.
The addition of Lucroy could present some moderate roster construction issues for the Indians, as Gomes himself is under a long-term deal, having inked a six-year, $23MM extension in Spring Training 2014. Gomes is slated to earn $4.5MM next season, and while that salary isn’t exactly prohibitive, it’s probably more than the Indians would like to pay a player that will be relegated to a backup role with them. The team’s projected 2016 backup, Perez, could find himself pushed off the 25-man roster entirely in 2017 with Lucroy added to the fold. For the time being, Lucroy figures to split catching duties with one of Perez or Gimenez. The latter of those two is out of minor league options and would need to be exposed to waivers in order to be sent to the minors, and given Perez’s woeful 1-for-33 start to the season — he only recently returned from a hand injury — Gimenez strikes me as the likelier of the duo to serve as Lucroy’s backup.
Mejia, 20, is one of the most highly regarded catching prospects in all of minor league baseball and ranked 70th on the midseason Top 100 prospects list published by Baseball America. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, in fact, tweets that the Brewers insisted that one of Mejia, Clint Frazier or Bradley Zimmer be included in the deal, so it’s clear that Milwaukee holds him in high regard. Mejia has split the season between Class-A and Class-A Advanced and entered play Saturday with a combined .344/.374/.524 slash before going 1-for-4 to extend his current minor league hitting streak to an amazing 42 games. He’s matched Lucroy’s 40 percent caught-stealing rate this season between his two stops, and Baseball America notes that he’s made improvements with the bat and the glove in 2016 (specifically in blocking pitches). MLB.com notes that the switch-hitter makes consistent hard contact and has good bat speed from both sides of the plate, leading to plenty of raw power. He has the upside to be an everyday catcher that is at least an average defender, they add.
Chang, also 20 and also playing at Class-A Advanced Lynchburg, is hitting .273/.347/.493 with a dozen homers and 10 steals on the season through 94 games. BA has him 10th among Cleveland farmhands on their midseason update, and he’s 12th on MLB.com’s midseason Indians top 30. Chang draws more praise for his above-average raw power than his glovework, as MLB.com points out that he has only an average arm which may not play at shortstop long-term. Even if he moves to second base or third base, though, the Taiwanese infielder has a chance to hit enough to carry value there.
Allen is the oldest prospect of the bunch at 23 years of age. Up until recently, he too was stationed at Lynchburg, but he recently moved up to Double-A Akron on the heels of an excellent .298/.424/.402 slash in Class-A Advanced. Allen’s calling card is clearly his speed, as he swiped 38 bases in 92 games with Lynchburg and snatched 46 bags in 126 games in 2015. He didn’t crack BA’s Top 10 Indians prospects, but they did make sure to highlight him as a rising prospect in the system. MLB.com ranks him 22nd, citing a lack of power but above-average speed and defensive skills in center field. Allen gives the Brewers’ system a potential top-of-the-order hitter down the line, and the fact that he’s walked nearly as many times as he’s fanned throughout his minor league career (140 vs. 143) speaks volumes about his plate discipline.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Glad the Dodgers never got involved
They were never getting involved, management likes Grandal too much
No question that their front office places a huge premium on pitch framing, which Grandal does quite well. But Lucroy is a top-notch pitch framer as well and brings a significantly better bat with him. I’m actually surprised the Dodgers didn’t get involved.
A club like LA passing on a catcher of Lucroy’s caliber means they have no interest in making the playoffs.
Seriously? I like Lucroy a lot but it’s not going to stop them from getting to the playoffs. They’ve been in the last 3 years without a catcher of his caliber. They’d rather spend the prospects elsewhere and I don’t think it’s a bad decision
Grandal might not be Lucroy, but he is the 5th best hitting catcher and a top 3 pitch framer this season. Catcher is hardly a position of need for the Dodgers.
Hopefully he waives it. He’s sort of a putz off the field so you never know.
You don’t know who Lucroy is do you
Apparently not
Punching a wall when you’re mad and being a philanderer puts one squarely in the “putz” category.
So Jeter in his prime was one wall punch away from being a putz?
I’ll give you the punching a wall, nobody ever really believed that suitcase story, but that was 4 years ago. And what makes you claim he’s a cheater?
Three players to Cleveland? Wow. Could be a blockbuster trade depending on who the other two are.
Um… I posted the previous comment based on your article, but the link says the three players are to Milwaukee. Just fyi the article isn’t matching the twitter post.
I wonder who they gave up. Doubt it would be zimmer or Frazier
Majia was the main player. Zimmer and Fraiser were not involved (per everything I read). If this does go through, it sounds like a GREAT trade!!! Love to get Locroy behind the Indians plate!!!
3 players? I wonder if they are all prospects. I’m going to guess Frazier/McKenzie/Clevinger
thoughts on who Cleveland is sending? I’m sure Mejia is in the package
Frazier for sure
I think Lucroy will waiver his no trade clause because he would be going to a first place team that could really use his bat in their lineup.
Congrats to Cleveland! At least we dont have to hear the Lucroy rumors anymore, until next trade deadline that is lol..
Probably Bobby Bradley, Mike Clevinger and Franky Mejia would be my guess.
This is my guess too
I wish we got all those three. At least Mejia was a part of it
Frazier or Zimmer would have to be involved if he approves I assume. Big move for Cleveland! High hopes there are some other big trades before the deadline.
The news that a fourth player is going leads me to believe that they got it done without including one of them.
That would be a steal if they got lucroy without involving one of them
Great move for Cleveland, will be interesting to see who they gave up. Just curious – any idea who the “mystery team” was? They were reportedly one of the last two or three teams involved.
Huge deal. Excited to see who all moves.
That pretty much locks up the Mets season right there.
Can’t believe the Mets would pass on a major upgrade like that!
Rosenthal just tweeted 4th player going to Milwaukee
i hope he says no deal. they already knew cleveland was a no go.
Relax, now Molina can be the best catcher in the division again
Defensively he already was.
Depends on what you value the most. Lucroy had a higher CS% (by a wide margin), fewer passed balls, and a better dWAR.
Mejia involved for sure
Good Trade. Maybe can still get Miller to..
I’d love that!!! but I don’t think it’ll happen. Yankees will want the rest of our farm system
Yeah I think Miller stays with Yanks unless Cleveland blows them away.
Mejia, Allen, Sheffield/ Mackenzie, Chang
Love the trade. Good luck to lucccc. Indian fans will love him
Absolute coup for the Indians if they are able to get him without giving up any of Zimmer, Frazier or Aiken.
Sheffield and Aiken are pretty comparable. Only a couple starts back after the TJ Aiken was probably never really on play since they didn’t have much of a chance to scout him.
I would advise Lucroy to demand an additional $1M this season and next season to waive the no trade.
true. Lucroys got a ton of leverage now. interesting to see what he gets
He doesn’t really have a lot of leverage. Indians were the only interested team on his no trade list. That means they are the only team he can really get anything out of. If they offer him $1mil he might as well take it because declining it gets him nothing. It could also risk him not be traded to anyone and then he doesn’t get to play for a contender.
Sounding like the second big piece is either Sheffield or McKenzie. Either way I’m pretty pleased as a Brewers fan. Good deal for Cleveland as well. I hope the Indians win the WS. Lucroy is a class act and it would be fun to see.
Indians fans will love Lucroy. This fits the bill with what Stearns is doing. Trading for prospects before they have the opportunity to enter the Top 100. Mejia is a top catching prospect who plays well defensively and at 20 years old is riding a 42 game hitting streak in A Ball.
Mejia and Sheffield/McKenzie are already top 100. So were Phillips and Hader.
The package of McMahon, Freeland, Nikorak, and Murphy that I suggested last night from the Rockies seems better than the package from the Indians. Or at the very least it seems equal. Of course I was shot down because there was no way Lucroy would go for a single top 100 prospect and 3 other pretty good prospects. And yet here we are. If it is Sheffield they gave up the #95 prospect and 3 other decent prospects. If it is McKenzie, they gave ZERO top 100 prospects and 4 decent prospects. I really wish the Rockies had made that offer now, because Lucroy would be a Rockie right now.
Rockies don’t need him because he doesn’t have lots of control, plus they’ve never really made big time trades for bats. Plus why are the Rockies trading a top pitching prospect away?
Because Freeland’s stuff is unlikely to ever be successful at Coors. Also because the Rockies starting has been the second best in the NL since the All Star break. Yes, it is a small sample, but the Rockies have never had this good of a rotation in their history. Their pitching is not nearly as dire as people that are not paying attention choose to believe.
Lots of control is not really needed anyway. They will definitely be a contender in 2017 and just might get back in the race in 2016. The Rox are sitting at .500 right now after sweeping the Mets in NY. They are just 1.5 games behind the Mets now, the same Mets that everyone thought should get Lucroy.
Baseball America has Sheffield at #69 and Mejia at #70.
Fair enough. I was looking at MLB.com where Sheffield is #95 and Mejia is unranked. Either way it just shows you that at least one major prospect ranker agrees with me.
Who has McMahon as a top 100 in there mid-season reports? Mejia and Sheffield (if he’s included) are both top 100 in at least one of the lists. I would much rather have Mejia, Sheffield/Mackenzie, Chang and Allen, than McMahon, Freeland, Nikorak and Murphy.
Midseason reports are WAY too dependent on hot streaks. He was in the top 50 of everyone’s pre-season reports.
And I would rather have the Rockies package I mentioned. So who’s to say that you are right and I am wrong or vice versa? At the very least, they are comparable. It’s just my opinion and I think there is enough evidence to show that it is a fairly reasonable opinion.
I’d much rather have the package they got from the Indians. Not that your proposal is bad, but think you may be over valuing your teams farm system like fans tend to do.
Fair point, but I do question whether some people are undervaluing the Rockies farm system, which everyone tends to do. I am not claiming that these guys should get Trout or anything stupid like that. But I think it was at least a very comparable offer.
Just because mlb.com has a prospect ranked in the top 100 doesn’t mean all teams have the same players ranked that way. They are also looking at long term possibilities as the players currently filling their roster hit FA or retire. They need good replacements.
I’m not disappointed that the Mets didn’t get him, honestly. I didn’t like the idea of giving up d’Arnaud, let alone d’Arnaud AND Nimmo.
Well Brewers fans are certainly glad we didn’t trade him for D’Arnaud and Nimmo!!
This is great news for the Yankees, they may be able to unload McCann to the Rangers or the Mets now.
Please be Mackenzie!! He’s going to be an absolute stud!
Even though Milwaukee made a nice trade, and received a solid package of prospects, this trade shows how the high asking prices will come down as teams get closer to the trade deadline. I really like the players the Brewers received, but I’m surprised they couldn’t get Frazier or Zimmer with the development of Naquin.
They maybe could have gotten Zimmer, but then they probably only get one or two lower level prospects to go with. May have gotten a better overall package this way and Mejia always seemed to be one of their targets. Was hoping they could pull Bradley along with Mejia, but overall not disappointed in the return.
I like that. Trust your scouts. Better to get 2-3 MLB regulars than one
Do the Brewers need OF prospects? Perhaps they filled positions of need.
No sign of that goober who guaranteed Lucroy is going to New York.
I don’t think the Mets were ever a realistic partner. The Brewers had no interest in d’Arnaud.
It’s long past his bedtime.
Where’s the authority for Sheffield’s inclusion?
Agreed, I thought Rosenthal stated Mejia, Chang, and Allen and then a 4th lesser prospect. Wouldn’t make any sense that Sheffield or Mackenzie would fit that.
Who would you rather get, Brewers fans? McKenzie or Sheffield? Same question to Indians fans, who would you rather keep?
I think the Indians keep both. That fourth prospect will be a no-name or ptbnl
As a Brewers fan, I’d say McKenzie. But Sheffield is a lefty, so they’re really close. Overall, I think this is a pretty fair deal for both sides. I’m excited about Mejia and either pitcher (and Chang or Allen may end up being serviceable mlb players). Zimmer or Frazier would have been nice, but they’re outfielders so I’m good with Mejia over them.
Love McKenzie’s upside, don’t think they can go wrong either way. More often then not when given a choice I’d take the lefty though.
Sheffield is short. Only 5’10”. McKenzie is in his second year of pro ball and turns 19 in a couple of days. I’d lean towards McKenzie’s upside.
McKenzie is way better…not even close.
Personally, I would rather keep McKenzie, however, you really can’t go wrong either way. Both project well, but Mckenzie is having an eye-opening year.
Probably McKenzie. But since Sheffield is a lefty it’s pretty close. I’m happy with the trade. Seems pretty fair on both sides. I think Mejia will end up being really good, and either of those pitchers has high upside. Allen and Chang may end up being serviceable regulars.
After the insanity of the Chapman deal this is a surprisingly normal haul for Milwaukee.
That’s because Lucroy is not a pitcher. Everybody needs pitching. Cleveland is the only team with a need at catcher. The other suitors just had wants.
I wonder if the Brewers will send Mejia to AA Biloxi or to High-A Brevard County. He got a mid-season promotion from the Indians, but the Brewers have three of their top five pitching prospects in Brevard. No time like the present to get them working together.
Brevard County…Nottingham is at AA so no reason to rush Mejia.
Cleveland is giving up to much
Have you seen what guys like Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Cashner are going for this year? This is nothing.
Let me know when Lucroy starts pitching regularly. Bad comparison.
Agreed
No way Sheffield or Mackenzie is in this trade for just Lucroy. If the Indians were getting Smith then maybe. Like Rosenthal said a lesser prospect, probably a throw in, Utility players Hankins or Stamets ( Indians got for Murphy) make sense.
You are right about Sheffield. He went to the Yankees with Frazier lol
We shall see. Everything I have seen indicates that one of the two ARE involved. I would be very surprised if one isn’t.
$20 million to waive the no-trade clause sounds about right.
Lay off the crack.
If the Cleveland Indians can get an extension going then it is a great deal. Otherwise, it is an okay deal. Personally, trading a catching prospect at that young of a age and experience, is truly all potential and no certainty so who knows what will happen going forward.
Now we will see what Cleveland has to do for Lucroy to waive the no trade. He is really in the drivers seat on this one. There is only a team option for next year on his contract and then its FA. So what if Cleveland does not meet his demands. Lucroy will be dealt this winter and only a competing team will pay the price the Brewers will be asking and his no trade will still be in effect (he may change the teams on it too). He then will still hit FA for 2018 or demand a new contract if it is another team on his no trade.
If I were him I would demand a new contract of at least 6/$75+MM. He can catch for a few years and then be a first baseman/DH.
I’m a little confused. If we get Mckenzie I get the deal. Great bat in mejia and a great pitching prospect along with 2 other good prospects. If not Mckenzie then why go for 4 prospects instead of Frazier and Sheffield? A good closer isn’t as important as one of the best catchers in the game. If good bullpen help is worth this much I hope we trade will smith and or Jeffress
Looks like it will be McKenzie going to the Brewers, now that Sheffield is a Yankee.
I wish. Sounds like he is not involved either. I’m definitely less happy with the value the Brewers got for Lucroy now. The catcher is a great get but the other prospects are much less intriguing.
Nope Brewers will get soon to be 26 year old RP Shawn Armstrong in deal.
As a Brewers fan this package is pretty disappointing especially with players the Indians just sent to the Yankees for Miller. I’d love to see Aiken added now that Sheffield is heading to New York.
I love seeing a team like Cleveland go all out like this. Especially with Lucroy on the roster I’ll be pulling for them in the playoffs.
Now we will see what Cleveland has to do for Lucroy to waive the no trade. He is really in the drivers seat on this one. There is only a team option for next year on his contract and then its FA. So what if Cleveland does not meet his demands. Lucroy will be dealt this winter and only a competing team will pay the price the Brewers will be asking and his no trade will still be in effect(he may change the teams on it too). He then will still hit FA for 2018 or demand a new contract if it is another team on his no trade.
If I were him I would demand a new contract of at least 6/$75+MM. He can catch for a few years and then be a first baseman/DH.
Cleveland shouldn’t have to meet his demands to waive the no trade clause, Milwaukee ought to IMO.
Why should Milwaukee have to pay to trade him? If they do that they might as well keep him long term. If Clevleand wants him they can pay him.
As a Brewer fan i’m shocked at how little it took to get Lucroy. Obviously you can’t judge a trade for a few years but still. And what shocks me even more is that the Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers and Mets were unwilling to match this offer. Besides the Mets they all had loaded farm systems and not sure it would have taken a lot to beat this offer. Crazy
Also MLB values a great closer a hell of a lot more than one of the best catchers in the league. Amazing.
I couldn’t agree more. I’m not sure how Aiken, Zimmer, or Frazier weren’t included.
Read above story. Brewers really liked Mejia and valued him as same as Zimmer or Frazier and wanted 1 of those 3 so of course Indians will have given up Mejia instead of the other two.
Little? They got some very solid prospects in return for a guy that isn’t in the long term plans and a team going nowhere this year.
He’s a top 3 catcher signed for pennies for the next 1.5 years. Im shocked that all it took was one top 100 prospect maybe, considering the market for closers is around a top 20 prospect in all of baseball and then some.
Will the Indians trade him this offseason? That’s my guess. Good move for both sides.
Armstrong is better than mckenzie. Armstrong was #25 then fell off the top 30 prospect list as at mid season. Armstrong’s ceiling is middle relief, doesn’t have the velocity to be a closer.
Wow Lucroy vetoes the trade!!
Wow indeed. Back to the drawing board I guess. Time for Stearns to call up that mystery team.
Wow. Lucroy just vetoed the trade.
Hopefully he’s not into chickens
IMO this is a good deal for Brewers was not impressed with haul. Either keep Lucroy and try to trade him in off-season for more or just take the comp pick in trade if you keep him through next season.
Lucroy has vetoed the deal
I think it’s safe to assume now that MIAMI overpaid in the deal to get Cashner. The prices are starting to come down now, I guess.