Another team has solidified their position behind the plate. The Oakland Athletics have inked Jonathan Lucroy to a one-year contract. The 31-year-old will enter his ninth year in the majors and has put together a respectable career in this span.
A’s have a one-year deal for Lucroy, source says.
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) March 9, 2018
Oakland Athletics Sign Jonathan Lucroy to a One-Year Contract
He spent the 2017 season between the Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies, and over 123 games batted .265 with six home runs and 40 RBI. Although he is not one of the prolific batters that we have come to expect from the catcher position, he is a reliable bat at the bottom of an order. He won’t hit the ball out of the park often, but Lucroy rarely strikes out, with only 51 over 423 at bats in 2017.
After spending the first six and a half seasons of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers he was dealt to the Texas Rangers in 2016 and his numbers between the two franchises were the best season he has put together to date. That year he hit for an impressive .292 average with 24 home runs and 81 RBI.
Drafted 101st overall in 2007, he has played in nearly 1,000 games at the MLB level, with 879 coming as a catcher. Lucroy has 960 hits in his career, but his value comes with his glove more than his bat. He has a .993 career fielding percentage and has thrown out 208 of a possible 541 base stealers. He also has a mere 33 passed balls and 49 errors.
The two-time All-Star will look to put forth a similar campaign to his 2016 season with his new team the Athletics while encroaching on 1,000 career hits and games played.
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 17: of a regular season MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the visiting San Diego Padres at Coors Field on September 17, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Getty Images)
