It was recently reported that the Texas Rangers were "surveying" the trade market for catchers, but Milwaukee Brewers' Jonathan Lucroy was not their top target despite the team's interest in the veteran earlier this offseason.
San Diego Padres backstop Derek Norris has apparently emerged as the Rangers' main preference, but there are a number of reasons why the Rangers should work to acquire Lucroy instead. While general manager Jon Daniels said that Texas isn't looking to add much more to their payroll, Lucroy is just over $1 million more than Norris for the 2016 season, and he's the better player.
Here are three reasons why the Rangers should make Lucroy their top priority if they continue to explore the trade market for catchers.
Lucroy is coming off a down campaign and is eager to play for a contender
The fact that he's coming off one of the least productive campaigns of his six-year MLB career suggests that the Rangers could get him for less than expected. The slugger battled injuries in 2015 and hit just .264/.326/.391 with 51 runs scored, seven home runs and 43 RBI in 103 games, but he finished fourth in the NL MVP voting the season prior.
Additionally, Lucroy said earlier in the offseason that it'd probably be best if the Brewers traded him since the club is enduring a rebuilding period, and he serves little purpose on a team that isn't expected to contend.
Norris will probably cost the same amount as Lucory in 2017 and may cost more in a trade
Norris, 27, will collect $2.95 million in 2016, which is his first year of arbitration eligibility. That number is bound to escalate heading into the 2017 season since he'll be up for a raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility.
Lucroy will cost $4 million in 2016, which is just over $1 million more than Norris, but Lucroy's career numbers are far superior to Norris'. Additionally, Lucroy has a $5.25 million team option for 2017, and that won't be much higher than what Norris will make that year, assuming he registers another quality campaign in 2016.
Additionally, Norris could cost more in a trade because he won't become a free agent until after the 2018 season. With the way MLB teams value club control nowadays, Pads general manager A.J. Preller is bound to set his asking price high for the 27-year-old.
Speaking of Preller...
Preller is formerly the assistant GM of the Rangers, so he is well aware of the talent he'd be looking for in the team's farm system
Assuming the Padres are looking to trade Norris for prospects to replenish their depleted farm system, it'll be no easy task for Daniels to negotiate with his former co-worker. Texas has one of the top farm systems in baseball, and it's safe to say that Preller is pretty familiar with its talent. Daniels won't be able to sell him on a player that might be a lesser desired trade target because Preller is likely already aware of what the team has to offer.
On the other hand, Brewers GM David Stearns is looking to rebuild the Brewers from the bottom up, so his requests may not be as demanding as Preller's. Lucroy might be a superior catcher to Norris, but he'll turn 30 in June, and his value isn't as high as it should be at this juncture.
Yes, there's the possibility and likelihood that Stearns will stand his ground with Lucroy and try to get maximum value for the veteran, but he's really at a disadvantage right now because the Brewers wouldn't be suffering a significant loss if he were to be traded and the longer Lucroy remains in this undesirable situation, the more unhappy he's going to get.
Stearns is still trying to acquire young talent, and it's possible that a few low-level prospects can get the job done for Lucroy because at this point, it's clear that nobody is going to overpay for him following his 2015 campaign.
