Brewers owner expects Lucroy at spring training
Although the rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly discussed trading catcher Jonathan Lucroy with multiple clubs this offseason, a deal doesn't seem imminent to team owner Mark Attanasio.
On Sunday, Attanasio said he fully expects Lucroy to be with the club when spring training begins in a few weeks, even though newly hired general manager David Stearns has parted ways with much of his veteran talent this winter, including Francisco Rodriguez, Adam Lind, and, as of Saturday, Jean Segura.
"As an owner, I'm delighted he'll be playing for us this year," Attanasio told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I'm very supportive of Jonathan. He's been an awesome part of this team."
He wasn't quite as awesome this past year - he managed a .717 OPS and missed 59 games in 2015 with toe and concussion problems - but Lucroy still ranks fourth among catchers in WAR over the last four seasons, and remains a highly enticing trade asset thanks in part to his remarkably team-friendly contract. After signing a five-year extension in 2012, he'll earn just $4 million this year with a $5.25-million team option for 2017, making him one of most valuable commodities in baseball if he can rebound from his underwhelming 2015 campaign.
| Name | Projected WAR* | 2016 Salary | $/WAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buster Posey | 5.4 | $20M | $3.7M |
| Russell Martin | 3.3 | $15M | $4.55M |
| Brian McCann | 3.0 | $17M | $5.67M |
| Stephen Vogt | 2.9 | $512K | $176K |
| Yadier Molina | 2.9 | $14M | $4.83M |
| Jonathan Lucroy | 2.7 | $4M | $1.48M |
While Lucroy may not be traded before players report to camp in mid-February, Attanasio also noted he's "embracing" the club's commitment to rebuilding - a direction that'll likely end Lucroy's tenure in Milwaukee. For his part, Lucroy, is ready to move on, too, saying earlier this month he'd "absolutely" welcome a trade to a contender.
"I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to compete for the playoffs this year," Lucroy said. "If I did that, you'd call me a liar. I'd lose credibility and respect.
"I want to win and I don't see us winning in the foreseeable future. I want to go to a World Series. That's what all players want. Rebuilding is not a lot of fun for any veteran guy."
Lucroy's remarks, however, didn't go over well with teammate Ryan Braun. Not only did Braun - the 2011 NL MVP and a six-time All-Star - call Lucroy to clear the air a bit after the catcher's comments went public, he said Sunday he "look(s)" forward to being part of Milwaukee's rebuild.
"I made it clear to him that's not how we're going to handle the situation," Braun said of his conversation with Lucroy.