Kuzul

The Milwaukee Brewers attempted to trade All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the news and noted the Brewers would have received four players in the trade. However, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‘s Tom Haudricourt reported on Sunday that “Lucroy has exercised his no-trade clause and vetoed [the] trade.”

Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, citing sources, reported, “Lucroy wanted Indians to rip up 2017 club option to get him to waive no-trade clause. Understandably, Cleveland said no.” Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported that the Indians have “moved on,” adding “there will be be no reworking” of a potential trade.

“If Lucroy had agreed to the trade, he would have lost his everyday catching job in 2017. Made no sense to agree,” noted USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale.

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com shared Lucroy’s comments after vetoing the trade:

Heyman previously said “well-regarded young catcher” Francisco Mejia would have headed to the Brewers. Rosenthal passed along a few other players who would have gone to Milwaukee:

Lucroy has bounced back after a poor 2015 season in which he hit .264/.326/.391, though that came with an injury caveat after he suffered a broken toe in April 2015 that cost him 39 games. 

It wasn’t a lost year for Lucroy, though, as Stat Corner metrics graded him as the 10th-best catcher by runs above average on defense (min. 5,000 pitches). Given the defensive demands of his position, the All-Star is a tremendous asset.

There seemed to be some uncertainty about how interested the Brewers would be in dealing Lucroy in 2016. General manager David Stearns told Haudricourt why the team was hoping to keep the 30-year-old.

“We are still open to discussing any number of players on our roster, but as I’ve said from the opening press conference, [Lucroy] is a really good player,” Stearns said. “He provides a tremendous amount of value to the organization. He’s a reason why we can be better next year.”

This year proved injuries were the primary cause for Lucroy’s issues in 2015. He was named to the National League All-Star team in 2016 for the second time in his career after hitting .304/.361/.491 in the first half. 

The Brewers, coming off a 94-loss season in 2015 and with another losing campaign in the works, are trying to contend in a loaded NL Central with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates at the top. 

Rosenthal reported in January the Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics backed off discussions with the Brewers about Lucroy because “they perceived the price to be too high.”

Things changed after the season started and playoff contenders found themselves in the market for an upgrade at catcher. A good defensive backstop who can hit for average, get on base and hit for power is one of the most precious position-player commodities in MLB.

Milwaukee’s farm system is getting better; Christopher Crawford of Baseball Prospectus wrote in December 2015 the Brewers’ collection of prospects “has impressive offensive depth, intriguing pitching and talent to make several teams quite jealous.”

The Indians needed to make a bold move. They are in a position to win their first American League Central title since 2007 and have a starting rotation deep enough to carry them in a postseason series. They landed Yankees reliever Andrew Miller on Sunday, before Lucroy vetoed the deal.

Catcher has been a black hole in Cleveland this year. Yan Gomes, who is on the disabled list with a separated right shoulder, was in a season-long slump before getting hurt. Chris Gimenez has built a nice rapport with Trevor Bauer as his personal catcher, but even a bench backstop has to hit better than .200/.238/.274.

Per FanGraphs, Cleveland’s catchers rank last in MLB with minus-1.2 wins above replacement. The Indians don’t have a large-market budget, which is what would have made Lucroy a perfect addition because of his $4 million salary this season and $5.25 million team option in 2017. 

Adding Lucroy’s bat to the middle of Cleveland’s lineup, especially with the uncertainty around Michael Brantley’s shoulder, would have addressed yet another need the club had. 

Age isn’t a problem for Lucroy at this stage of his career, nor should he be considered injury-prone after playing 300 total games between 2013 and 2014.

Catchers with Lucroy’s offensive and defensive stability who have a team-friendly contract don’t come along often. He’s been an underrated star because the Brewers haven’t been strong playoff contenders since 2011.

Stats and contract info per Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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Just hours after he was dealt from the Atlanta Braves to the San Diego Padres, infielder Hector Olivera was designated for assignment by his new team on Saturday, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

The 31-year-old Olivera came to the United States from Cuba in 2015 and has played in just 30 games. He is currently serving an 82-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy that will end on Monday.

Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune added that the DFA will not become official until he gets off of the league’s suspension list on Tuesday. 

The Padres sent veteran right fielder Matt Kemp to the Atlanta Braves, per ESPN.com, as the team was able to shed his big contract. 

Per Lin, Olivera was expected to be designated for assignment upon the deal’s completion as the Padres continue to shed big-name players in order to rebuild the franchise.

Kemp was owed $21.5 million in each of the next three years through the 2019 season as San Diego also dealt $10.5 million to the Braves to help them deal with his big contract. 

San Diego has also parted ways with Fernando Rodney, Melvin Upton Jr, Andrew Cashner, Drew Pomeranz and James Shields this summer.

Olivera though also had a big contract of his own as he signed a six-year, $52.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers before he was dealt to the Braves. Per USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, Olivera is expected to make $25.5 million in the remainder of his deal.

As a player who hit .322 with 96 home runs and 438 RBI in 11 seasons in Cuba, Olivera has failed to live up to the height during his time in the majors. 

In his 30 games over two seasons, he’s batted .245 with two home runs and 13 RBI. 

He began his rehab assignment in July 15 in the minor leagues as he prepared to come back from his suspension, which came after an April 13 arrest outside of a hotel in Washington, D.C., where he was charged with assault and battery of a woman.

Now just days before being eligible to return to the majors, Olivera might have to find a new home to try and get his professional career in the United States on track. 

Contract figures courtesy of Spotrac.com. Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Kansas City Royals closer Wade Davis is still recovering from a right forearm strain he suffered in early July. He has been placed on the disabled list, and it is uncertain when he will be able to return.

Continue for updates.

Davis Placed on 15-Day DL

Sunday, July 31

The Royals announced Davis had been placed on the disabled list on Sunday, adding that pitcher Matt Strahm will be called up in his place.

Davis Continues to Struggle with Elbow Issues

Davis was forced to hit the 15-day disabled list after initially straining his forearm, which held him out for more than two weeks. 

He looked fine after returning July 16, as he didn’t allow a run and gave up just two hits in four appearances while picking up two saves. 

But on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels, Davis allowed two runs on two hits and three walks, though he closed out a 7-5 win.

Davis has been one of the premier relievers-turned-closers over the past three years, as he’s allowed just 22 runs since the start of the 2014 season.

His ability to close out the opposition late in games is what helped the Royals make two consecutive World Series appearances, including a win over the New York Mets in 2015 where he fired the final pitch:

Despite his dominance, his name recently cropped up in trade talks with the MLB non-waiver trade deadline coming up on Monday, per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. 

A trip to the disabled list with a day to go until the deadline should eliminate any chance of a trade. 

However, the Royals find themselves without another key bullpen arm, as reliever Luke Hochevar recently went on the 15-day DL due to symptoms associated with thoracic outlet syndrome. 

They’ll now have to rely on Kelvin Herrera to carry the bullpen in Davis’ absence. With the Royals entering Saturday night 10 games out of first place in the American League Central, their chances of a postseason berth could worsen if Davis has to miss an extended period. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The San Diego Padres traded outfielder Matt Kemp to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in exchange for Hector Olivera, the Braves announced on Saturday. 

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported the news. Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported the Padres would send between $10 million and $12 million to Atlanta to help offset the remainder of Kemp’s salary. 

It’s the second time Kemp’s team has traded him since late 2014. The Padres acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers as they attempted to bolster their roster for what ended up being a disappointing 2015 campaign.

The 31-year-old right fielder enjoyed a steady rise during his nine years with the Dodgers. He peaked in an outstanding 2011 season during which he racked up 40 stolen bases and 39 home runs while posting a career-high .399 on-base percentage.

He hasn’t replicated that success since, though. His power numbers were serviceable last season with 23 homers, but he had just 12 steals, and his OBP fell to .312, which marked a five-year low. That downward OBP trend continued in the first half this year, though his pop remained an asset.

Ultimately, after the Padres’ rapid-building approach failed, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when Kemp became available.

There were a couple of hurdles the front office had to jump to move him, however. The biggest one was the outfielder’s contract, which is slated to pay him $21.5 million per year in base salary through the 2019 season, per Spotrac, though the Dodgers are on the hook for $3.5 million a season through 2019.

Then there are the lingering injury concerns. While he played at least 150 games in 2014 and 2015, he missed 145 contests between 2012 and 2013. He revealed to Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated last May that his body doesn’t respond quite as well as it used to.

“I can still run, but I can’t run like I used to run,” Kemp said. “I got to do a lot more maintenance, making sure my body is right. When I was younger, I could just get out of bed, go play a game and be good. I’ve got to warm up, get those muscles loose to get ready for a game. It’s a process now.”

That said, he still has a lot of natural talent and should have a couple of strong seasons left, assuming he can stay healthy. 

He also adds a veteran presence to an Atlanta team that has struggled throughout the season. The Braves are 36-67 and aren’t a serious contender, but Kemp gives them an experienced option who can add some power to the lineup as the club moves into a new ballpark next year. Atlanta ranks dead last in baseball in total home runs. 

In return, the Padres get Olivera, who is set to finish an 82-game suspension Monday after he was charged on April 13 with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery. However, Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported Olivera would be designated for assignment by the Padres upon completion of the deal. 

A Cuban defector, the 31-year-old Olivera has played 30 major league games since 2015 and batted .245 with two home runs and 13 RBI. Per Lin, he is due $28.5 million over the next four years.

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The San Diego Padres have reportedly traded outfielder Matt Kemp to the Atlanta Braves, according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Left fielder Hector Olivera will be sent to the Padres pending physicals, per O’Brien. 

The Braves are Major League Baseball’s worst team this season with a record of 36-67, but after they tore down the bulk of the roster, acquiring Kemp is the first big step toward rebuilding it.

The 31-year-old two-time All-Star is enjoying a solid season with a .262 batting average, 23 home runs and 69 RBI. He has tallied at least 23 homers in seven of the past eight seasons and is five years removed from a runner-up finish in the NL MVP voting during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kemp is signed through the 2019 season at a salary of $21.5 million per year, according to Spotrac.

Atlanta is unlikely to develop into a playoff contender for at least a couple of more seasons as its top prospects continue to move up in the system, but acquiring Kemp now could be a proactive move meant to draw the timeline a bit closer.

The Braves have little to speak of offensively aside from cornerstone first baseman Freddie Freeman, so a middle-of-the-order bat like Kemp is much-needed.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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Outfielder Billy Burns will join the Kansas City Royals for the stretch run of the 2016 season after the defending champions acquired him via trade Saturday.

The Oakland Athletics announced they moved Burns to the Royals in exchange for outfielder Brett Eibner. Oakland also noted Eibner will head to Triple-A Nashville following the swap.

Burns played 73 games this season for Oakland and slashed .234/.270/.303 with 12 RBI and no home runs. From a statistical perspective, it represents a decline from his 2015 effort at the plate when he slashed .294/.334/.392 with five home runs and 42 RBI in 125 contests.

He typically handles center field with solid athleticism, but Burns is capable of playing in the corner outfield as well after spending some time in right field this year. He is responsible for one total defensive run saved above average this year after posting a decent four defensive runs saved above average in 2015, per FanGraphs.

His overall speed helps him cover ground in center field and post those fielding numbers, but he is also an asset on the basepaths. He stole 26 bases a season ago and 14 bases this season before Saturday’s trade.

The Royals are not afraid to challenge on the basepaths either, so Burns should fit in nicely. Entering Saturday’s MLB slate, Kansas City was 12th in the league in stolen bases with 59, per ESPN.com.

As for Eibner, he appeared in 26 games for Kansas City this season and slashed .231/.286/.423 with three home runs. However, he hasn’t played since May 27 and was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday to make room for Lorenzo Cain’s return from injury, per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

Eibner suffered an ankle sprain in May and went on the disabled list. MLB.com ranked him as the 28th-best prospect in Kansas City’s system entering the 2016 season.

Although they no longer have Eibner in the system, the Royals do get a player who is under team control for the remainder of this season and all of 2017 in Burns, per Spotrac. They are 10 games back in the American League Central and looking up at the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, but at least they have Burns for next year if they are unable to make a late charge.

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Mark Melancon has been a weapon at the back end of the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen over the past four seasons, but the team traded him Saturday to the Washington Nationals. 

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the news, and the Nationals confirmed the deal:

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball shared the monetary details of the deal:

Melancon is 1-1 with a 1.51 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 2016. He has 30 saves in 33 chances. He has made the last two NL All-Star teams and is a three-time All-Star overall.

Melancon doesn’t have electrifying strikeout stuff (38 strikeouts in 41.2 innings this year), but he induces weak contact and holds opponents to a low batting average on balls in play, highlighted by a .257 BABIP, according to FanGraphs.

The downside with the closer is he is 31, plus BABIP is a difficult statistic to predict since at least some of it is predicated on luck. Fortunately for his new team, Melancon has been dominant the past four seasons (1.90 ERA/0.87 WHIP in 2014 and 1.39 ERA/0.96 WHIP in 2013) and won the 2015 Trevor Hoffman Award as the National League’s top reliever.

The Nationals can now breathe a little easier in the back end of their bullpen. Jonathan Papelbon has converted 19 of 22 saves, but he has a 4.41 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Washington will almost certainly move him to an eighth-inning role.

Washington leads the National League in bullpen ERA at 3.05, per ESPN.com. That means the Nationals are bolstering what is already an area of strength, even if Papelbon has struggled with consistency this season. Melancon’s presence will theoretically move everyone one spot down in their allotted bullpen slot, which shortens the games against opponents.

The Nationals were six games ahead of the Miami Marlins and 7.5 games ahead of the New York Mets in the National League East coming into Saturday’s MLB slate. The addition of Melancon gives them yet another weapon in what has been a strong bullpen this year and makes any potential comeback for either of those teams even more difficult.

From the Pirates’ perspective, they at least managed to receive some value in return for Melancon, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, per Spotrac.

What’s more, one general manager believes there is no longer any stigma attached to trading closers, per Heyman, formerly of CBS Sports: “Everyone’s closer is available. People, especially the young GMs, have no fear of trading their closer.”

The Pirates acquired Melancon in the first place because of their willingness to deal an effective closer. Joel Hanrahan tallied 76 saves in 2011 and 2012 for the team, but Pittsburgh shipped him to the Boston Red Sox in a package deal that included Melancon.  

Perhaps the Pirates landed their next star with this trade.

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High-profile targets abound as MLB inches toward the Monday trade deadline. 

The Aroldis Chapman deal was a fun way to start. The San Diego Padres shipping away Andrew Cashner, Colin Rea and Tayron Guerrero to the Miami Marlins for prospects Josh Naylor and Luis Castillo, among others, provided additional fireworks, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.

In hindsight, those deals might pale in comparison to what could come. The rumors flying around fall into the “possible” category, sure, but if they come to fruition, it’s going to change the hierarchy of the league right away, if not for a long time.

With such a theme in mind and the main course likely still ahead, here’s the latest off the rumor mill.

Yasiel Puig on the Block?

The Los Angeles Dodgers might have had enough of Yasiel Puig.

Puig’s name has been all over the place as of late, in large part thanks to alleged talks between the Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds surrounding Jay Bruce. 

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports provided the context:

That doesn’t mean the deal is dead in the water, and it especially doesn’t mean fans can expect to stop hearing Puig’s name.

According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Puig’s name coming up in talks isn’t anything new:

What’s with the potential change of heart?

The outfielder is 25 years old now and has a slash line of .254/.315/.375 with seven homers and 32 RBI. Each number is the worst of his career, so the front office might want to unload him while his value remains somewhat high. If the Dodgers believe it’s all downhill from here, he’s liable to end up in a deal soon.

Puig still has plenty of value for teams in need, so long as his body can hold up. He’s dealing with hamstring issues for the second season in a row, and by the sounds of the rumblings, the Dodgers might be tired of waiting to see if he can stay on the field.

Mets in on Jonathan Lucroy

The Jonathan Lucroy sweepstakes continues to heat up.

He has plenty of value, so it makes sense the selling Milwaukee Brewers (45-56) want to capitalize and get a nice return with the future in mind.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets have offered catcher Travis d’Arnaud as bait in a potential deal for Lucroy. He explained why the Mets are so hot after the streaking catcher:

The Mets baseball operations department continues to believe the club will hit better with runners in scoring position, which has been the main plague to the offense this year. The .204 mark going into Friday would be the third worst in history. But the front office feels they just can’t operate on that belief and have to try to upgrade the offense if possible.

Lucroy would provide a welcome boost in that regard. He’s batting .300/.360/.484 with 13 homers and 50 RBI this year—a huge improvement from his 2015 totals of .264/.326/.391, seven homers and 43 RBI.

As Sherman mentions, though, it’s hard to know if the Brewers want prospects in return or d’Arnaud. The 27-year-old catcher has a .238 average this year with two homers and 10 RBI. The real issue is his ability to stay on the field, as he’s appeared in more than 67 games just once in his four-year career.

By the sound of it, the Mets are willing to meet whatever price the Brewers want for Lucroy. Which, of course, is exactly what a struggling team wants to hear when it needs as many assets as possible to build for the future.

Rangers “All Over” Vince Velasquez

Hanging onto a four-game advantage over the Houston Astros in the American League West, the Texas Rangers want to make a move to improve the pitching staff at the deadline.

As a result, the Rangers have targeted 24-year-old Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal was first on the scene for this one:

Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly followed with further context, revealing talks had progressed after Velasquez took the mound Friday:

A major league source told CSNPhilly.com that the Phillies and Texas Rangers are “pretty deep” in trade discussions involving Velasquez. The Rangers, the source said, also have some interest in Jeremy Hellickson, who pitches for the Phillies on Saturday night, but he appears to be a secondary target 

Any interest in Velasquez shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Not only is he young, but he’s in just his second season in the majors and has shown a marked improvement over his campaign with the Astros last year.

Over 18 games, Velasquez boasts a 3.32 ERA with 108 strikeouts and an 8-3 record. Those are decent numbers for a youngster who is on a team that is 15 games out of first place in the National League East.

One way or another, it sounds like the Rangers will poach someone from the Phillies staff. Who remains the question, though Texas hopes it is Velasquez.

The Rangers had better act fast, because it’s hard to imagine other teams won’t have an interest in testing the waters now that Velasquez’s name is out there.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.

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July 31’s falling on a Sunday has proven good fortune for MLB general managers, as it’s given them an extra 24 hours to jostle for moves on a trade deadline that seems destined to either shift the sport’s paradigm or go out with a whimper.

What’s clear is that there isn’t a lack of rumors. Teams on the outskirts of contention are floating star-level players, while the desperate need for pitching and power has contenders walking around with sore feet from kicking tires. 

There hasn’t been all that much movement yet. 

Aroldis Chapman is the biggest name to get sent packing, and his departure from the New York Yankees was seemingly preordained from his arrival. Looking elsewhere, you’ll find names like Andrew Cashner, Bud Norris and Melvin Upton Jr.—fine players who are not going to decide what happens in October.

That all could change over the next two days. The rumor mill is not lacking for difference-makers nearing Chapman’s level, so let’s take a look at a few of the biggest names making headlines.

Dodgers-Reds 3-Way Deal Is Dead

Twitter was buzzing Friday when ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reported on a potential three-team trade that would send Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Speculation was rampant about the mystery third team, and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported the Dodgers were at one point including Yasiel Puig in talks.

Welp. That’s just about over.

Stark reported Saturday that the discussed three-way deal isn’t happening. The Dodgers and Reds are still discussing a potential Bruce trade, but nothing appears close at the moment.

Bruce, 29, is in the midst of a surprising bounce-back season. He’s hitting .268/.319/.566 with 25 home runs and 80 runs batted in.

While Bruce is still a dreadful defensive player who would be far better suited for the American League, the Dodgers could really use his bat. Their outfield, once seemingly overrun with talent, has become a surprising weak spot due to Puig‘s struggles, Andre Ethier’s injury issues and the inconsistency of Trayce Thompson and Joc Pederson.

Moving Puig as part of any package for Bruce might also be helpful in giving the fallen star a change of scenery. Puig has been relegated to pinch-hitting duty for more than a week due to a hamstring injury and is in the midst of his worst MLB season. The 25-year-old’s play has fallen off a cliff the last two seasons after breaking out as a star in 2013 and 2014.

A Puig-Bruce swap might give the Dodgers a little too much left-handedness—they’re already batting Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley, Corey Seager and Yasmani Grandal from that side—but it’s a major offensive upgrade.

Josh Reddick Joins List of OFs Who Could Move

Over the last five seasons, Josh Reddick has become one of the few mainstays on an always-shuffling Oakland Athletics roster. He’s reveled in quiet consistency, never making an All-Star team but producing at least 2.5 wins above replacement in each of his four years in Oakland.

Injury issues have put that streak in jeopardy—Reddick‘s appeared in just 66 games and has struggled defensively—and it appears the A’s may be willing to sell low(ish). Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reported the Chicago Cubs have expressed interest in adding Reddick to the mix.

The Cubs have added Chapman and Mike Montgomery to their bullpen and are now looking for outfield production they wish they were getting from Jason Heyward.

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported the Cubs may have competition in the Dodgers, who have discussed adding Reddick and pitcher Rich Hill. The 36-year-old Hill has been a revelation this season, compiling a 9-3 record with a 2.25 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. It’s an out-of-nowhere performance given Hill hadn’t started more than 10 games in a season since 2009.

Adding Hill and Reddick would give the Dodgers a leg up in the proverbial arms race in the NL. The Cubs have leveled off since their historic start, and right now it realistically feels like any of the five current playoff teams could win it all.

Reddick is a good enough player—and might be cheap enough prospect-wise—to be a more worthwhile bet than Bruce.

Rangers Targeting Vince Velasquez

Last summer, the Texas Rangers raided their deep prospect coffers to acquire Cole Hamels from the Philadelphia Phillies. A year later, it appears the Rangers and Phillies are preparing for a similar deal for Vince Velasquez.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reported the two teams are “pretty deep” in discussions for the 24-year-old righty. In his first full major league season, Velasquez has compiled an 8-3 record with a 3.32 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He has struck out 108 batters in 97.2 innings. Acquired as part of the deal that sent Ken Giles to the Houston Astros last December, Velasquez has been a surprise star for a Philly team that’s well out of contention.

The Phillies are going to want a significant haul in return if they wind up moving Velasquez. He isn’t even arbitration-eligible until 2019 and is locked in to team control for the foreseeable future. It’s not too often 24-year-olds who are in the midst of breakout campaigns are traded; the Rangers are going to have to dip deep into their farm system.

The Phillies made a similar move in trading Giles, who has been inconsistent in his set-up role for the Astros. With Velasquez having a massive history of injury issues, Philly might be smart to sell high here before anything happens.

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The New York Yankees are considering trading catcher Brian McCann ahead of the trade deadline on Monday, though no deal is imminent.

Continue for updates.

McCann Linked to Braves

Sunday, July 31

MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported on Sunday that the “[Atlanta Braves] have discussed trading for [McCann]. It depends on how much money the Yankees are willing to eat.”

McCann previously played with the Braves from 2005 to 2013 before joining the Yankees. He’s in his third season with the Yankees after signing a five-year, $85 million deal in 2013.

McCann Expendable as Yankees Fail to Win

McCann, 32, is hitting .235/.334/.430 with 15 home runs and 41 runs batted in this season. 

The Yankees (52-51) are in fourth place in the AL East. They’re six games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the division lead and 4.5 out of the AL’s second wild-card spot.

McCann hasn’t made an All-Star team since his arrival, but he’s been a generally solid addition. He is on pace for his third straight 20-homer season in New York and could clinch another two-plus WAR (FanGraphs formula) with a good second half. The Yankees have essentially jettisoned him from the lineup against left-handed pitchers in favor of Austin Romine. 

“This year, we have not been getting what we expected,” general manager Brian Cashman said, per Andrew Marchand of ESPN.com. “He is better than this.”

Romine would stand to see a majority of the work if McCann was dealt. The Yankees also have 23-year-old top prospect Gary Sanchez waiting in the wings. Sanchez is hitting .286/.333/.478 with 10 home runs and 48 runs batted in for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.

Moving McCann now would clear Sanchez to split catching duties with Romine for the remainder of 2016 and perhaps set up a full-time job in 2017. The Yankees already have too many aging players who need time at the designated hitter spot, so McCann has essentially become expendable.

The biggest issue would be his contract, which teams would no doubt expect New York to pay part of. The Yankees are currently on the hook for at least $34 million in 2017 and 2018, and there is a vesting option for $15 million in 2019, should McCann hit certain playing-time barriers. He also has a full no-trade clause, so he would have to approve any trade.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.

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