Milwaukee Brewers: Five landing spots for Jonathan Lucroy
What are some ideal landing spots for Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy?
We are getting close to the trade deadline and one of the teams that is going to have some chips to cash in for their rebuilding project is the Milwaukee Brewers. I’ve looked at some spots for outfielder Ryan Braun in this space before, and now it’s time to take a look at where catcher Jonathan Lucroy could be dealt.
Lucroy turns 30 today, and is in the midst of his best season in two years. He’s currently hitting .304/.364/.512 with nine homers and 28 RBI. Per Statcorner, Lucroy is also at 3.4 RAA which is eighth among NL catchers. Per Fangraphs, Lucroy leads all catchers this year in WAR, is tied for second in RBI, and is third in OPS.
Lucroy is also quite affordable. He’s making $4 million for this season with a $5.25 million team option for next season. Milwaukee has all the power here. They don’t necessarily have to trade him, however, with them in rebuilding mode, now would be the perfect time to cash in this asset.
Catching is hard to come by, especially catching that also provides you a quality bat in the order as well. Lucroy won’t be a part of the Brewers by the time they are a contender again, and his value just might never be higher.
So where should he go? Where are the best landing spots for the catcher? Where are the spots for Lucroy where he could be that missing piece to a contending puzzle?
Let’s take a look.
Next: The leaders in the NL
Chicago Cubs
This may be an unecessary luxury for the Cubs. They could be better off using some of their trade chips on getting a reliever like Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman, but the Cubs could use an upgrade here.
Miguel Montero has battled some injuries this season, but is only hitting .210 in 38 games. David Ross is only hitting .224 and is retiring after this season. Lucroy would represent a offensive upgrade over both and can give Anthony Rizzo some time off at first base as well.
A middle of the lineup combo of Lucroy, Rizzo and Kris Bryant with Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist setting the table can make the Cubs offense even better. It may be easier to look past the lack of production in left field and also from Jason Heyward so far this season.
The Cubs certainly have the farm system to get anyone, but would the Brewers send one of their best players to a division rival?
Next: Defending NL Champs
New York Mets
The New York Mets offense is in a similar state to what it was last season. Injuries have taken away David Wright, Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud. Two of those three missed time last season as well and the Mets are looking for a bat that could help them the way that Yoenis Cespedes did last season.
d’Arnaud is on his way back on a rehab assignment, but the production between him, Kevin Plawecki and Rene Rivera has been awful. Per Fangraphs, they are 28th in OPS, 27th in WRC+, 27 in RBI, and tied for 25th in average.
Lucroy can give the Mets an option there and at first while Duda recovers from his injury. James Loney has been playing there, but one has to wonder if they are to get Lucroy, they could put him at first vs lefties and have d’Arnaud catch.
As the New York Post said, the Mets may not have the pieces, and they apparently haven’t given up on d’Arnaud even though he hasn’t proven that he could stay healthy at all throughout his career. Would the Mets want to use their limited pieces on a catcher or look to add another infielder?
Next: The AL East
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have a top offense. One of the spots they could stand to upgrade at is catcher. They have two young catchers in Blake Swihart and Christian Vasquez, however, Swihart has questions with his defense, so much so that he was moved into the outfield. Vasquez has been excellent defensively, but his offense has left a little bit to be desired.
The Red Sox could use either in order to obtain Lucroy, plus they have a bevy of other prospects they could use to increase their offer if they wanted to. Moving to the AL could even help Lucroy’s career.
For example, if they were to use Swihart, they could have Vasquez catch, play Lucroy at first and then move Hanley Ramirez to a DH role once David Ortiz retires after this season. Of course, they could use Lucroy more at first base this year too if they so desired.
The Red Sox can put together a package of prospects without giving up all of their top prospects and still have players left to upgrade their rotation
Next: Texas Two-Step
Texas Rangers
The Rangers were thought to have catching issues coming into this season, however, the catching position has been a strength. Robinson Chirinos, Bobby Wilson and Bryan Holaday have combined for the eighth highest average, the fifth highest OPS, and the fifth highest WRC+ of all catching tandems.
The Rangers have one of the best farm systems in the game and could use prospects like Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo to get anything that they want.
Lucroy could also help at first base, where the Rangers have not gotten much production out of Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland so far in 2016. Profar has come up and helped there, but may be better served for Texas in a utility role.
Would the Rangers be better suited to use their assets to get a reliever or a starter, much in the same vein as the Cubs. Catcher isn’t bringing this team down, but if they are going to compete in a short series situation, they may be better served adding a reliever. Can they count on Sam Dyson closing out games for them in a big spot? Can Yu Darvish stay healthy the rest of the way to help the rotation? If the answer is no, the Rangers are going to need help.
Next: The Other Texas team
Houston Astros
The Astros aren’t exactly a contender this year and are probably better off selling guys like Colby Rasmus, Carlos Gomez and others, but they could theoretically buy Lucroy this year. Brewers GM David Stephens comes from the Astros. so he knows their system better than anyone.
Jason Castro isn’t giving the Astros much behind the plate offensively, even with an improved walk rate. Astros catchers are 16th in WRC+, and 18th in OPS.
Lucroy could also help the Astros at first base until top prospect A.J. Reed is ready to come up after recovering from an injury.
This move would be a curious one considering the situation the Astros are in, however, they could easily flip Lucroy next year were they to struggle again and get assets for other players to even out their losses on Lucroy.
Next: Cubs scouting Yankees bullpen
If I had to pick anyone out of these five to land Lucroy, I would have to handicap the Rangers as the favorite since they have enough to get him and the arm that they need. However, don’t be surprised if a team has an injury to a catcher between now and then and makes a late push to get Lucroy.