The trade for Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress, Texas’ big-time move to wrest favoriteship in the American League from the Indians, was another matter, as it meant Texas surrendered Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz.
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The Rangers finally got their catcher, reportedly cutting a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy.
The New York Mets were interested in acquiring the All-Star catcher and proposed a trade for him with Travis d’Arnaud, the catcher for the Mets, a top prospect and a third player to be announced later, but as of late Sunday that offer was rescinded. They’ve been in first in the AL West for a long time and have a six-game lead.
A little more than a day after the stunning news, it appears that Lucroy will still be on the move.
Since he vetoed the trade, the Mets re-engaged in talks with the Milwaukee Brewers about Lucroy, but according to Jon Heyman, they are now out of the trade talks.
A two-time All-Star, Lucroy is batting.299 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs. He has a $4 million salary this year as part of a contract that includes a $5.25 million team option for 2017.
The Rangers have used four different starting catchers this season, with Bobby Wilson making a team-high 38 starts. He has Major League experience with the Giants, batting.240 (53-for-221) with 6 HR and 33 RBI in 87 games from 2014-15. If Lucroy were forced to split time at catcher, first base and designated hitter, it would diminish his value when he becomes a free agent after next season, which also likely soured him on the deal. He was a first-round pick by the Rangers (#29 overall) in the 2012 draft, and despite an early slump and an injury this year, had returned to hitting well in Frisco this year.
Ortiz, 20, has struggled a bit this season, going 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts) for Class AA Frisco but has struck out 34 batters and walked only seven in 39 2/3 innings of work. He played all of Saturday’s game after leaving in the eighth inning Friday because he was drilled on the right foot with a pitch while behind the plate.
Beltran is in the final year of a three-year deal with the Yankees. Combined, he has a 4-6 record with a 3.48 ERA. He will have to continue proving his plate-discipline gains are legitimate in order to realize his ceiling, but the floor here is insane high too for a soon-to-be 22-year-old center fielder.
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Texas will send 2015 first round pick Dillon Tate along with other prospects to NY in that deal, according to club.
