MLB: Milwaukee Brewers Catcher Jonathan Lucroy Wants Trade to Contender
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy expressed his desire to play in a contending team in a telephone interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday. Lucroy is open to being traded to a playoff team, insisting that it is the best for him and the Brewers organization.
"I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to compete for the playoffs this year. 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 said.
The Brewers finished last season with a 68-94 record, tied for fourth worst in the entire MLB. Milwaukee also placed general manager Doug Melvin to a different position and fired manager Ron Roenicke. The team is expected to enter the rebuilding process, something that Lucroy is not a fan of.
The 29-year-old catcher had a subpar season in 2015, hitting just .264 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs, per Baseball Reference. He also missed 59 games last year due to a broken toe. Lucroy has two more years left on his club-friendly contract, making him a very interesting trade candidate for contending teams.
He became a first-time All-Star in 2014 by having a batting average of .301 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs. Lucroy also finished 2014 fourth in the NL MVP voting, showing not only his offensive skills but also defensive skills.
According to an FOX Sports report, the Brewers are selling high on Lucroy despite an injury-riddled 2015 season. The Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers are reportedly in talks with Milwaukee this offseason.
However, the teams backed off because of the high price the Brewers placed on him. In a report by the Washington Post early in January, the Nationals tried to acquire Lucroy at last season's trade deadline. He is set to make $4 million and $5.25 million the next two years before hitting free agency.
Lucroy also told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he would be professional about the coming season and would not be making any fuss regarding his trade request. "Right now, I'm planning on being with the Brewers. I'm not going to think anything different until something happens," the catcher said.
"I'm not going to be a bad teammate. I'm not going to be a bad clubhouse guy. I'm not going to be bitter. It's just part of the game," he added.
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