Lucroy Available

[TKGuy]

According to Buster Olney, the new regime in Milwaukee may be interested in trading Lucroy where the old regime was not interested. To me, this is where we need to pounce. Lucroy is a tier below elite, but is under a team friendly contract. If we need to take back Segura also, I would do that. I know that Gibson would be a starting point, along with maybe a Hicks, who has revived his trade value.

 

If we could land Lucroy, that would be a huge upgrade in a position of need.

 

What do you think it would take?

[Winston Smith]

How do you know Gibson would be the starting point? Not sure catchers with concussion histories are a good bet.

[stringer bell]

What would it take? Young players-I have to believe Milwaukee knows they can't contend in 2016 and perhaps 2017. Hicks and Gibson have 2+ seasons each, it may be they would be willing to take those guys, but they wouldn't want someone not under team control for at least four years. I speculated during the season they would need three prospects not named Berrios, Sano or Buxton, probably one starter, one position player and maybe a ready to go player (I suggested Arcia).

[stringer bell]

 

 

How do you know Gibson would be the starting point? Not sure catchers with concussion histories are a good bet.

Lucroy had a concussion this year, but it doesn't mean he's done catching, although he's closer to that than he was a year ago, if that makes sense.

[nytwinsfan]

I would be interested, but only with a significant discount based on his mediocre performance and concussion last year.  Do we have any idea how he's doing health-wise? We'd want to be pretty sure he is likely to bounce back, because the last thing the Twins need is a second (and possibly third, depending on how Pinto recovers) catcher owed money who will take up a DH/1B spot.

[Trov]

Of all the possible available catchers he is who I want the most.  I would be willing to give up a pitching prospect(not berrios), and either Hicks or Arcia.  Arcia's brother is a top prospect for the brewers so may want him more for that connection maybe.  

 

I am not that worried about his injury history.  That is because his contract is very team friendly so not a huge risk if he can't stick at catcher.  It may even bring his asking price down to.  His biggest upside is his defense.  He is considered a top defender, which would be a huge upgrade of what we have now.  

 

I would not be willing to give up a ton to get him, but a low level pitching prospect, and Arcia would be a great deal.

[TheLeviathan]

At the very least we better be on the phone about this.

[DocBauer]

Stewart, Polanco and Arcia?

[dgwills]

 

Stewart, Polanco and Arcia?

I'd do that. When healthy Lucroy is elite.

[Monkeypaws]

He's been great. With concussion, late 20's, been there done that.

 

That package would be better spent on an up and coming catcher.

[stringer bell]

 

Stewart, Polanco and Arcia?

That's about what I was thinking.

[matthew0211]

I'd give them Gibson if Milwaukee would also send back Will Smith and his 12-ish K/9 in addition to Lucroy. 

[jorgenswest]

If the Brewers decide to bake him available, there should be several interested teams. I think they will get a top 50 prospect for him. The Twins would have Kepler and Berrios in the top 50.

[Monkeypaws]

The guy had one exceptional season, at 28. 

 

 

Odds are he's never gonna do that again. I would never trade a top prospect for this kind on player, ever.

 

 

[Rosterman]

Hey, if we get Lucroy, could we send Suzuki to the brewers as part of the trade?

 

[ashbury]

Hey, if we get Lucroy, could we send Suzuki to the brewers as part of the trade?

Yeah, though it might cost us an extra C-graded prospect for them to take him off our hands.

[stringer bell]

Lucroy is pretty good. He is regarded as good to excellent defensively and has a lifetime 109 OPS+. Last year the Twins had one player exceed that number and he only had 300 or so PAs (Sano). To get that kind of offensive productions from a good defensive catcher is outstanding.

 

On the larger issue of acquiring talent, every player the Twins look at will have negatives as well as positives. It would be nice to find an undervalued asset, as at once time Jose Bautista and Wade Davis were. The price for other team's assets will always be high, but sometimes a guy finds the right role or right position and blossoms.

[USAFChief]

This seems like an opportunity knocking. Answer the door, TR.

[DocBauer]

1* Make this trade as long as it's something similar to what we are saying here.

 

2* Sign Chris Davis to DH and share 1B.

 

3* Trade Plouffe, move Nolasco with cash and probably a lower prospect. Try to come away with one top RP in one of these moves, LH or RH. If you can somehow come up with one of each, you just hit a bit-time double!

 

4* Sign a veteran LH bat for the bench. I'm intrigued by Murphy of the Angels. Solid career triple slash.

 

Rosario-Buxton-Hicks with Murphy in the OF

Sano-Escobar-Dozier-Mauer/Davis with Nunez and Santana in the INF

Lucroy-Suzuki at C

 

I'd go to war with that roster, though the exact order of the lineup is hard to predict right now. Too many variables until we get to ST and begin to play games.

[halfchest]

I'd be very curious about the price involved.  Let's not joke around and say we're gonna get him for Nolasco Arcia and or course Duensing . . . but overall I am very curious about the price for the guy.  Is it a sell low if they trade him right now?  His total numbers from last year aren't amazing but if you look at his 2nd half splits it's again .800 OPS and falls in line with his numbers from 2012-2014 as an elite hitter, especially form the catcher position.  He's on an incredibly affordable contract for 2 years that if things go awry it won't hurt the team other than the prospects they forfeit.

 

He'll be 30 next year  and has some recent injury concerns.  I guess all of this is just a long way of saying , yes go after him, but at the same time, the Twins can't mortgage too much of the future to grab him.

 

His overall middling stats from 2015 might represent a shot to grab him at a discount from what he would have cost a year ago, but he's still not coming for free and it will take players who have more years of control than he does.  Polanco, May, Kohl Stewart all seem like nice centerpieces to deals.  Maybe we also sell low on Alex Meyer?  I don't know, just spitballing. Obviously not giving up anyone like Sano, Buxton, Berrios for him.

As much as I hate the dump our garbage on other teams mentality, if they are rebuilding they might be willing to take on the money owed to Nolasco.   With the hope they could flip him if he rebounds and they get maybe another young upside player if they agree to take on his contract.  

[BoomBoom]

I can see the Brewers going for a trade for Plouffe;  Duffy or May and Walker.    The Brewers need a third baseman and first baseman if they are thinking of getting rid of Lind too. 

 

Ploufe would be a major upgrade at 3rd for the Brewer and is close friends with Braun.    Walker (a Milwaukee native) might have a ways to go but was a second team All American at 1st base in college.     His power could play well in Milwaukee for a young team like the Brewers.     The Brewers are desperate for starting pitching and Duffy or May would be exactly what the Brewers are looking for.    Plouffe and Walker could become serious HR threats in the launching pad called Miller Park IMO.    I'm sure the Twins could sweeten it with 1 of their less favorable relievers as the Brewers need them too.

 

Bottom line:    Lucroy is the next step to the Twins getting thru the playoffs and not just to it.    He's a middle of the order bat that demands respect.

[mudcat14]

I have no idea what it would take, but they could have interest in reuniting the Arcia brothers, or Milwaukee native, AB Walker III.  Maybe those two with a Stewart, Meyer or one of the AA relievers gets it done. 

[HitInAPinch]

After reading the article and the MLB Offseason "Outlook: Milwaukee Brewers"  I'd say it's less likely new GM Stearns has interest in trading Lucroy than taking the time to rebuild his creds.  Lucroy has a very team friendly contract and Sterns is definitely a "Sell High" guy and sell before they wear out.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Milwaukee is in a tough division right now and won't be competing next year. There's no reason for them to hang on to Lucroy.

[gunnarthor]

I'd be pretty surprised if we get Lucroy.  I'm sure that Ryan will inquire but after Mauer, Morneau, Koskie and Span's wrecked seasons, the Twins probably worry about concussions more than most teams.   I can't see them paying the premium on Lucroy that the Brewers will want (and that someone will pay).  

 

I'd bet they go with a Suzuki/AJ combo next year.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd certainly be interested.

 

Milwaukee has zero shot for the foreseeable future, they should be dealing for super young players like crazy. the Twins have those.

 

I predict he is dealt someplace else.

 

Gary Sanchez is a guy I would pursue.....

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Arcia idea is interesting and maybe a team like Milwaukee might go for something like that. Marketing the Arcia brothers. The Plouffe idea is good. I might be ok if Milwaukee gets a high prospect as long as we get a couple good prospects back. Ryan is good identifying those types of guys.

[gunnarthor]

 

Gary Sanchez is a guy I would pursue.....

That's interesting.  Presumably, one of these years the Yankees will have to get younger (although they could use their $ and nab guys like Heyward and, in a few years, Harper).  Sanchez seems like the clear replacement for McCann but McCann's under contract for 4 more years(!) and if they could get some other younger bats in the process they might trade him.   They actually have a pretty young rotation.

 

Plouffe would be a good fit for them to replace Headley at third.  Kepler would be the type of exciting prospect they'd like in NY.  Jorge Polanco would probably be an improvement over Drew at this point. Hicks might hold some interest for them if they are giving up on Ellsbury in center.  Nick Gordon's dad used to play for them.  And we have some good arms if they wanted some.  Arcia can't play defense worth spit but his LH bat in that stadium would be pretty tantalizing.  I know nothing of their system so I don't know the internal options they have but I do think the Twins could make a package of some kind that would interest them.  (Or Boston with Swihart).

[ashbury]

The Arcia idea is interesting and maybe a team like Milwaukee might go for something like that. Marketing the Arcia brothers.

Milwaukee has also always (at least according to my selective memory) loved their big poor-fielding strikeout-prone oafs who hit just enough homers to keep Bernie Brewer from collecting cobwebs. Great fit for a trade of a spare part here.

[tobi0040]

 

I'd be very curious about the price involved.  Let's not joke around and say we're gonna get him for Nolasco Arcia and or course Duensing . . . but overall I am very curious about the price for the guy.  Is it a sell low if they trade him right now?  His total numbers from last year aren't amazing but if you look at his 2nd half splits it's again .800 OPS and falls in line with his numbers from 2012-2014 as an elite hitter, especially form the catcher position.  He's on an incredibly affordable contract for 2 years that if things go awry it won't hurt the team other than the prospects they forfeit.

 

He'll be 30 next year  and has some recent injury concerns.  I guess all of this is just a long way of saying , yes go after him, but at the same time, the Twins can't mortgage too much of the future to grab him.

 

His overall middling stats from 2015 might represent a shot to grab him at a discount from what he would have cost a year ago, but he's still not coming for free and it will take players who have more years of control than he does.  Polanco, May, Kohl Stewart all seem like nice centerpieces to deals.  Maybe we also sell low on Alex Meyer?  I don't know, just spitballing. Obviously not giving up anyone like Sano, Buxton, Berrios for him.

As much as I hate the dump our garbage on other teams mentality, if they are rebuilding they might be willing to take on the money owed to Nolasco.   With the hope they could flip him if he rebounds and they get maybe another young upside player if they agree to take on his contract.  

 

Every off-season you have guys with more upside than Nolasco on minor league deals.  Almost no money with upside.  So nobody is taking on 2/25 for Ricky because he has upside.

 

Lucroy only has two years left at like $11M total.  So it is nice but you can't give up a top 3-4 guy in our system or even Kyle Gibson for a two year thing.