The Angels have signed 32 year old Catcher Jonathan Lucroy to a 1-year deal. Lucroy’s deal is reportedly worth $3.35MM guaranteed and can max out at $4.525MM with incentives.
Jonathan Lucroy has played in 9 seasons in the Majors, while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, and Oakland Athletics. Lucroy spent parts of 7 seasons (2010-2016) with the Brewers and is where he earned the reputation of calling a good game and becoming one of the best hitting Catchers.During that time he worked a slash line of .284/.342/.436, while hitting 157 doubles, 19 triples, and 79 home runs with 387 RBI. Lucroy, was a 2x All-Star with the Brewers in 2014 and 2016, and he even led MLB in doubles in 2014 when he hit 52 and placed 4th in the NL (National League) MVP voting that same year.
During the 2016 season, Lucroy would be traded to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline. Lucroy finished the year strong with Texas, but would struggle in 2017 and he would later be traded at the 2017 deadline to the Colorado Rockies. Lucroy finished out the 2017 season with the Rockies and would sign late into Spring Training with the Oakland Athletics. He appeared in 126 games with the A’s and led the AL (American League) in games played (126), assists, and caught stealing among catchers. Lucroy had 83 assists and 28 caught stealing and was popular among his teammates and coaching staff in Oakland. He also notched 100 hits last season and that was the 7th time in his career reaching 100 hits in a season.
Lucroy has not hit well the past two seasons as he has in his career as he has posted a slash line of .253/.319/.668. His power numbers have gone down with only 10 home runs in that 2 year span with 42 doubles, 4 triples, and 91 RBI. Lucroy was a big part of the A’s reaching the postseason due to his capability to handle their young and injury riddled pitching staff. The Angels needed a veteran Catcher who can help manage a pitching staff and Lucroy showed with the A’s he is more than capable of doing that.
Featured Image: AP Photo/Roger Steinman
