The 3rd Man In

Time for the Brewers to deal Lucroy

This article was originally posted on WoelfelsPressBox.com.

It’s no secret the Milwaukee Brewers are in a rebuilding mode and will likely deal veteran players prior to the Aug. 1 MLB Trade Deadline to continue to add quality prospects to their farm system.

While the Brewers could trade a handful of players, catcher Jonathan Lucroy is the most likely trade candidate.

Lucroy, 30, is in the midst of an All-Star caliber season, hitting .303 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs in 72 games this season, after a horrendous 2015 season that saw him struggle to stay healthy and produce on the field.

With his value reestablished, along with being signed to a team friendly contract through 2017, Lucroy will bring the Brewers a nice haul of prospects.

Regarded as one of the top all-around catchers in the game, numerous teams will likely be interested in Lucroy’s services. However, the team the Brewers need to deal with is the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers have a respectable farm system, featuring four of the top 100 prospects in
baseball, according to MLB.com, and their best prospect is third baseman Joey Gallo.

Gallo is one of the top prospects in the game, mainly due to his jaw-dropping power at the plate.

In his first four years as a pro, he averaged 51 homers per 162 games — as well as 242 strikeouts.

The left-handed swinging third baseman has a high-ceiling, featuring incredible power and a strong-arm defensively. While Gallo might be forced to move from the hot corner to first base due to his lack of quickness and agility, his bat profiles well at the major league level.

A deal centered around Gallo, might be the best option for the Brewers if they can convince the Rangers to part with their top prospect. The Brewers have desperately wanted to add talented corner infield prospects to their farm system and Gallo would solve that weakness. He’d also be ready to compete at the major league level this season.

With the MLB Trade Deadline only a month away, the time is now to trade Lucroy. While the Brewers will wait until they get the deal they feel is the best, trading for a package centered around Gallo would be ideal to add an elite level prospect to their improving farm system.

Should the Brewers trade Lucroy prior to the MLB Trade Deadline? Leave your thoughts below.

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