Texas Rangers rumors: Jonathan Lucroy, catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, vetoed a trade that would have sent him to the Cleveland Indians this morning, and Ken Rosenthal says the Rangers are "strongly in [the] mix" for Lucroy now that he's back on the market. Evan Grant says the Rangers are having "productive conversations," which assumes are Lucroy-related.
So with the Rangers now knowing what the Indians offered, and the Brewers were willing to accept, for Lucroy, and knowing that's the offer that no longer is available with the no-trade being exercised, they appear willing to re-engage in an effort to get Lucroy to Texas. The 30 year old Lucroy is under team control through 2017 -- he has a $5.25M team option for 2017 that seems to be a lock to be picked up -- and is considered a strong pitch-framer and game-caller, as well sporting a .300/.360/.484 slash line this year. He gives the Rangers a big boost in their catcher game, as Lucroy and Robinson Chirinos is an upgrade over Chirinos and Bobby Wilson, and with Chirinos having a history of durability issues, it would mean much less of a dropoff if Chirinos gets dinged up again.
The issue is price...Jurickson Profar or Joey Gallo would likely be necessary, or else Lewis Brinson along with a really strong second piece. I've been opposed to using Profar for a short-term upgrade...but then, Profar is under team control for only two seasons longer than Lucroy, and if you aren't dealing Rougned Odor or Elvis Andrus, Profar doesn't really have an everyday position here that makes sense. Yes, you could put him at 1B or DH or LF, but his bat doesn't play as well there, and it may be that Lucroy is the move that makes sense.
Meanwhile, there's no doubt folks who say you should deal Gallo instead of Profar...but Gallo, unlike Profar, is under team control for six seasons, rather than three, and even if you think their bats are going to be similar (and personally, I suspect Gallo will be the better hitter going forward), you'd rather have the six years of Gallo than the three of Profar.
In any case, this appears to be developing quickly, so we shall sit on the edge of our seats and wait anxiously for updates...