Washington Nationals Trade Target: Jonathan Lucroy

With the Nats looking at trading for a catcher, could they look to acquire Jonathan Lucroy from the Brewers?

During this offseason, the Washington Nationals have made changes to their bullpen, at second base, and at shortstop. While they are still rumored to be looking to acquire an outfielder, they are also looking to get another catcher. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported last night that the Nationals are looking to the trade market to possibly get a catcher:

Nats have looked at the trade market for catchers. They are involved on a number of fronts.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 6, 2016

While the Nationals currently have Wilson Ramos and Jose Lobaton as catchers on their Major League roster along with Pedro Severino and Spencer Kieboom in the minors, catcher is a position they could use an upgrade, especially with Ramos’ inconsistent 2015. The first name I thought about when I saw this report was Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers. Lucroy was taken in the third round of the 2007 MLB Draft by Milwaukee.

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In 2015, Lucroy had a slash line of .264/.326/.391 with seven home runs and 43 RBI’s in 103 games. It was an injury-riddled year for Lucroy as he played in his fewest games since 2012 (96) as he battled a concussion late in the season and had a fractured toe that kept him out from April 2o-June 1. Also, he had the second fewest home run and RBI totals of his career.

However, the right-handed hitting catcher, who turns 30 in June, had a career-year in 2014. In 153 games that season, he had a slash line of .301/.373/.465 with 13 home runs and 69 RBI’s in 103 games. In a year in which he made the National League All-Star team, his 6.7 WAR was the best in the NL (Anthony Rendon finished second at 6.6) and he finished fourth in the MVP voting.