Twelve months ago, Jonathan Lucroy was considered one most valuable targets at the trade deadline, before the Milwaukee Brewers dealt him to the Texas Rangers for a prospect heavy haul. Fast forward to now, and it seems like Lucroy may be hearing his name on the trade block again, very soon.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, Texas is open to moving Lucroy, and going forward with a catching duo of Robinson Chirinos and Brett Nicholas. Despite Lucroy being the most accomplished name in the bunch, his value has regressed significantly on both sides of the ball. He’s no longer impacting games on a regular basis. Since Opening Day, Lucroy has slashed an unimpressive .263/.311/.375, in 241 plate appearances. He’s only launched a total of four home runs, but his thirteen doubles still show there’s some power in his bat. The biggest concern, is Lucroy’s struggles behind the plate. …show more content…
His ability to frame pitches was something truly special, but he’s aged fast, and it seems like the skill has disappeared. At age 31, it’s tough to envision Lucroy’s body bouncing back, after seeing the different injuries he’s battled throughout his career. If Lucroy isn’t dealt by the Rangers, Rosenthal noted it’s “unlikely” that the organization extends a qualifying offer his way, at the end of the season. Follow this logic, Texas will need to deal Lucroy for an asset, or he’ll leave in free agency this winter, without offering some type of return. While trading Lucroy may seem like the Rangers are giving up on 2017, they aren’t. Throughout the past few seasons, Texas has consistently dealt prospects to help fill holes on the major league team. This approach has drained their resources quite a bit, so Lucroy gives the Rangers the ability to make a move, without compromising the big league team, or the
According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, Texas is open to moving Lucroy, and going forward with a catching duo of Robinson Chirinos and Brett Nicholas. Despite Lucroy being the most accomplished name in the bunch, his value has regressed significantly on both sides of the ball. He’s no longer impacting games on a regular basis. Since Opening Day, Lucroy has slashed an unimpressive .263/.311/.375, in 241 plate appearances. He’s only launched a total of four home runs, but his thirteen doubles still show there’s some power in his bat. The biggest concern, is Lucroy’s struggles behind the plate. …show more content…
His ability to frame pitches was something truly special, but he’s aged fast, and it seems like the skill has disappeared. At age 31, it’s tough to envision Lucroy’s body bouncing back, after seeing the different injuries he’s battled throughout his career. If Lucroy isn’t dealt by the Rangers, Rosenthal noted it’s “unlikely” that the organization extends a qualifying offer his way, at the end of the season. Follow this logic, Texas will need to deal Lucroy for an asset, or he’ll leave in free agency this winter, without offering some type of return. While trading Lucroy may seem like the Rangers are giving up on 2017, they aren’t. Throughout the past few seasons, Texas has consistently dealt prospects to help fill holes on the major league team. This approach has drained their resources quite a bit, so Lucroy gives the Rangers the ability to make a move, without compromising the big league team, or the