Milwaukee general manager David Stearns said the Brewers would move on after Lucroy refused to waive the no-trade provision in his contract.
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The Texas Rangers added one of the best offensive catchers in Jonathan Lucroy before the trade deadline. Really excited and can’t wait to get after it!
In another tweet, Lucroy thanked Brewers fans and said they would always have a special place in his heart. His six-year career in the major league has all been spent with the Brewers, where he hit.284 in 805 games.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Lucroy and Jeffress, the team has designated catcher Bobby Wilson for assignment.
In the trade for Carlos Beltran, the New York Yankees dealt him to the Rangers in exchange for three minor league pitchers, which includes Dillon Tate-a fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft. Lucroy said Sunday, July 31, 2016, he was not going to go into the details behind his decision, but the long term is more important than the short term for him and his family.
Jeffress, 28, returned to the Brewers in 2014 and has gone 8-3 with a 2.36 ERA and 27 saves (all this season) in 148 relief appearances during that stretch. The Brewers acquired outfielder Lewis Brinson and pitcher Luis Ortiz. In the hours after the news, details came out regarding why Lucroy vetoed a deal. He won’t unseat Sam Dyson for the closer role, but getting another late-inning guy pushes everyone else back and makes the group as a whole better.
Brewers officials say 22-year-old Brinson, acquired from the Rangers, entered the 2016 season ranked by both Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com as the second-best prospect in the Rangers organization. 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. 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.
Bickford this season went a combined 5-6 with a 2.71 ERA in 17 starts between Class-A Augusta (11gs, 3-4, 2.70era) and Class-A San Jose (6gs, 2-2, 2.73era).
Beltran is in the final year of a three-year deal with the Yankees.
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With these additions to the already formidable Rangers lineup, analysts say the team may actually have a shot at the World Series-a first for the franchise.
