Texas completed the deal Monday, a day after Lucroy blocked a trade that would have sent him to AL Central-leading Cleveland.
Advertisement
Along with Lucroy and Jeffress, the Brewers also sent pitcher Will Smith to the San Francisco Giants.
Top pitching prospect Luis Ortiz is the second prospect heading back to the Brewers. Also, with Lucroy’s contract containing a team option for $5 million next season, it’s a safe bet he will return to Texas on a team-friendly rate.
On his verified Twitter account, Lucroy wrote, “Now, moving on to the (at) Rangers let’s take this bad boy to the ‘ship!” “For someone to reach out and come get me, it’s a really good feeling”.
The Brewers were put in a spot when they had a deal in place to deal Lucroy to the Indians and Lucroy nixed the deal.
Texas has used four starting catchers this season, with Bobby Wilson making a team-high 38 starts. He went 4-6 with 3.48 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) between Class-A High Desert (7g, 6gs, 3-2, 2.60era) and Double-A Frisco (9g, 8gs, 1-4, 4.08era).
Daniels added that Jeffress has an electric arm and is capable of pitching in the 9th inning, although they prefer for Sam Dyson to remain the club’s closer. Holaday, who was recalled an injury rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Round Rock, started 25 games behind the plate for Texas.
He will now have a clear path on a team contending for a World Series title. Brinson was the team’s 2012 pick, Ortiz was the team’s 2014 selection and Tate was the fourth overall pick in 2015. He’s struggled a bit this year in Double-A Frisco, logging a 4.08 ERA and 1.36 walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP), but has still managed to strike out 34 batters in 39.2 innings pitched, while also bringing his walks-per-nine-innings rate down to a career low of 1.6.
Earlier in the day, the Brewers acquired right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for left-handed pitcher Will Smith. I’m respecting their process and what the Brewers are trying to do in terms of the trade. He’s spent the entire 2016 season in the minors, batting.273 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs for Class AAA Sacramento. In five minor league seasons, Brinson owns a career.275/.343/.486 batting line with 72 home runs and 254 RBIs.
Advertisement
There are a few things standing in their way, a potential lack of quality prospects in their farm system (the Brewers aren’t just going to give away the two-time All-Star for peanuts) and their belief that Travis d’Arnaud can still be their future at catcher. He was originally selected by Milwaukee in the first round (16th overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.
