The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to trade catcher Jonathan Lucroy and closer Jeremy Jeffress from the Texas Rangers. In exchange the Brewers will be receiving outfielder Lewis Brinson and pitcher Luis Ortiz.
Texas Rangers Get Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress
Reports: The Rangers have acquired Jonathan Lucroy from the Brewers https://t.co/oQVWhW0U1X pic.twitter.com/wohDMq24rt
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) August 1, 2016
Lucroy was one of the most sought after players at the trade deadline, and for good reason. The All-Star catcher is hitting .299 to go along with 13 homeruns, 50 RBIs, and a 122 OPS+. Lucroy also possesses a very reasonable $5.25 million team option for the 2017 season.
In acquiring Lurcoy, the Rangers have addressed a huge area of weakness, with a player under a friendly team-controlled contract. After having an injury-plagued 2015 campaign, Lucroy came back with a vengeance this year.
Jeffress was in the midst of a career year after being moved to the closer role earlier this season with Milwaukee. He sports an outstanding 2.22 ERA with 27 saves, and figures to shore up the questionable Rangers bullpen for a run at the American League pennant.
For their trouble, the Brewers have acquired the Rangers #2 (Brinson) and #3 (Ortiz) prospects. Both players figure to be future key pieces of the Brewers team in the coming season.
Busy 24 hours for the Rangers and Lucroy
The Lucroy trade caps off a very busy day for the Rangers, who earlier acquired Carlos Beltran from the New York Yankees for their #4 prospect, Dillion Tate.
It seemed that Lucroy was destined to join the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, however, Lucroy blocked a trade to the club, due to concerns of playing time in 2017. There were other teams rumored to be interested in acquiring the catcher, most notably, the New York Mets. However, the Rangers ended up offering the best package, and Lucroy and Jeffress are Arlington bound.
The Rangers are clearly all in on this season. They have separated themselves from the majority of the American League with these acquisitions.
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 31: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a home run in the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park on May 31, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
