Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy has been the subject of trade rumors for quite a while because he simply does not fit in with the team's current rebuilding process. The veteran has two years left on his contract and the Brew Crew will by no means be ready to compete in 2016 or 2017.
Lucroy admitted earlier in the offseason that it'd probably be best for the Brewers to trade him because he's not of much value to a team that has dealt a number of their veterans in exchange for young talent. New general manager David Stearns' goal is to build the organization from the bottom up.
Many thought Lucroy would have been traded by now, but the Brewers apparently aren't going to lie down easily in negotiations with other MLB clubs.
"The Brewers were engaged in talks involving the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros in a three-way deal that failed to materialize," writes Bob Nightingale of USA Today Sports. "The Brewers have attached an exorbitant price tag on Lucroy's value, and who can blame them?"
The Astros, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels and others have been speculated to be interested in Lucroy, who is owed $4 million in 2016 and $5.25 million in 2017 (via a team option).
Some perhaps were under the impression that Lucroy's down year in 2015 would provide an opportunity to buy a bit lower than originally expected, but Milwaukee isn't going to give away valuable veterans without getting what they feel is suitable in return. The 29-year-old played in only 103 games last season due to injuries and hit just .264 with a .717 OPS. He scored 51 runs, hit seven homes and batted in just 43 runs.
But it appears as if Stearns is marketing Lucroy as if he's coming off his 2014 All-Star season. If that's the case, it's unlikely he'll get many bites before Opening Day. As a result, the team will have to hope Lucroy performs well through the non-waiver trade deadline so Stearns demands don't appear to be too beyond the market value.
Now that he's healthy there's a good chance that happens, but he'll probably need the lineup around him to exceed expectations for him to maximize his potential.
