Arguably the top prize in this year’s MLB trade season, Jonathan Lucroy has been traded to the Rangers in exchange for prospects Lewis Brinson, a 22-year-old outfield prospect now in AA, and Luis Ortiz, a 20-year-old pitching prospect who has split time between A and AA in the minor leagues.
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The Cleveland Indians are close to acquiring catcher Jonathan Lucroy for four prospects, according to multiple reports late Saturday.
Lucroy has been connected to many teams over the last month, including the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, in addition to the Rangers.
In 95 games with the Brewers this season, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette product has slashed 0.299/0.359/0.482 with 13 home runs and 50 runs batted in, earning his second All-Star nod.
In exchange, the Rangers have given up their No. 2 and No. 3 prospects in outfielder Lewis Brinson and right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz. Jeffress has posted a 2.22 ERA in 47 games with Milwaukee this season while saving 27 games.
Earlier Monday, the Rangers acquired designated hitter Carlos Beltran from the New York Yankees. Lucroy has two more controllable years left on his contract and is easily the best catcher on the market at this year’s deadline.
Tate was the consolation prize for the Rangers’ terrible 2014 season, a season that – until the final weeks – had the Rangers in position to make the #1 overall pick in the draft.
Brinson has spent the entire season with Double-A Frisco, batting.237 (72-304) with 11 home runs and 40 RBI in 77 games. Between a combination of A+ and Double-A this season, Ortiz has a 3.48 ERA and 8.3 K/9 ratio.
Orioles 6, Blue Jays 2 • Jonathan Schoop singled home the go-ahead run in the 12th and Baltimore ended a five-game losing streak, beating host Toronto to reclaim the AL East lead.
Bickford was the Giants’ first-round pick in 2015 and is now MLBPipeline’s 65th-ranked overall prospect.
Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trading deadline Monday afternoon remains the singular focus of the Milwaukee Brewers and other teams that involved as either buyers or sellers. Robinson Chirinos has started 33 games.
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The 27-year-old Smith is 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA this season in 27 games and 22 innings. Ortiz was rated as the #3 prospect in the Rangers system by MLB.com. He has a combined 2.71 ERA between Class-A teams in Augusta and San Jose this year.
