1. 新聞來源：
mlbtraderumors
2. 新聞標題：
Athletics To Sign Jonathan Lucroy
3. 新聞內容：
By Jeff Todd | March 9, 2018 at 3:36pm CDT
The Athletics have agreed to sign catcher Jonathan Lucroy, per MLB.com’s
Jane Lee (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the Excel client, according
to the report.
Entering the winter, MLBTR predicted that Lucroy would command a two-year,
$24MM commitment. We cited the A’s as a possible suitor, but at the time it
seemed likelier that the 31-year-old would choose a team more clearly
positioned to contend, given his own comments on the subject.
As was the case for others, of course, the free-agent market did not really
develop as expected for the veteran backstop. The Rockies — who employed
Lucroy for the second half of the 2017 season — had interest but pivoted to
Chris Iannetta, who ended up being one of three catchers (joining Welington
Castillo and Alex Avila) to secure two-year commitments.
Lucroy’s free-agent experience was long expected to be much more rewarding.
When the 2016 season drew to a close, after all, he stood as one of the best
all-around receivers in the game, having just wrapped up a five-year run of
.291/.353/.465 hitting during which he was also reputed to be among the game’
s best defensive catchers.
The 2017 season, though, did not go well at all. Lucroy got off to a
disastrous start at the plate with the Rangers before a mid-season trade to
the Rockies. While he rebounded with a robust .429 on-base percentage (with
27 walks against just 19 strikeouts) down the stretch, Lucroy’s power never
returned and he finished with a .265/.345/.371 slash line and six home runs
over 481 plate appearances on the year.
Optimists will point to the still-impeccable zone control and long history of
productivity. Pessimists can handily cite the fact that Lucroy delivered
little hard contact, lots of grounders, and a career-low full-season dinger
tally in a 2017 season marked by a leaguewide offensive surge.
Defensive questions also arose. While the Rockies credited Lucroy’s work at
managing the pitching staff, suggesting he retains his good reputation in
that hard-to-quantify realm, there was surprising slippage in the framing
department. Once lauded as the master of winning strikes for his pitchers,
Lucroy graded miserably in that key metric in 2017.
Of course, we at MLBTR were still somewhat bullish on Lucroy’s market
situation despite those areas of concern. Indeed, I argued for more than our
collective prediction, writing in early October that he could command a
three-year commitment with an annual salary of $10MM or more. In a market
full of surprises, Lucroy’s shortfall is among the most eye-opening. While
he surely could have commanded a larger payday had he signed earlier in the
winter, with timing playing a role in the ultimate contract, it remains
notable that such an accomplished player was forced to settle for such a
commitment.
[RELATED: Updated Athletics Depth Chart]
For Oakland, it’s an eminently sensible risk to take. The club had said it
expected to utilize Bruce Maxwell as the primary option, but he had a tough
season at the plate in 2017 as well as a troubling offseason run-in with the
law. While he undoubtedly remains part of the future plans, it could be that
he’ll open the year in the minors with Josh Phegley supplementing Lucroy at
the MLB level.
Even with Lucroy aboard, it’s tough to pick the A’s as a favorite in the AL
West that’s led by an outstanding Astros club and is competitive from top
top bottom. But if he can coax breakout performances from a youthful pitching
staff, if not also rebound with the bat, then perhaps there could yet be a
surprise in store.
Lee and ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick previously reported a deal was close.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
4. 新聞連結：
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/athletics-to-sign-jonathan-lucroy.html
5. 備註：
(1) 運動家以一年約簽下Jonathan Lucroy。
(2) 其他捕手簽約比較：
A. Chris Iannetta (COL) ：2 yrs/$ 8.5 M (18-19) & 20 team option
B. Welington Castillo (CWS)：2 yrs/$15 M (18-19) & 20 team option
C. Alex Avila (ARI) ：2 yrs/$ 8.25 M (18-19)
(3) 2017年在遊騎兵期間對Jonathan Lucroy可說是一場災難，雖然被交易到洛磯隊後有反
彈的跡象，但綜合來說在攻擊方面仍低於去年全聯盟平均水準，如砲瓦不及過去幾年平均
表現、能把球用力擊中的比率降低、滾地球擊出比率提高等；然而，正面來看，他仍然是
一名有經驗、能貢獻不少的捕手，對好球帶的判斷仍有一定水準。
(4) 在防守與協助投手方面，洛磯隊評等他具有難以量化的貢獻，像是他在framing有傑出
的表現，但綜合來說他去年在這方面的表現就不是很理想。
(5) 運動家今年球季預計的野手陣容：
A. C：Jonathan Lucroy、Josh Phegley。
B. 1B：Matt Olson。
C. 2B：Jed Lowrie。
D. 3B：Matt Chapman。
E. SS：Marcus Semien。
F. RF：Stephen Piscotty。
G. CF：Boog Powell、Jake Smolinski。
H. LF：Matt Joyce。
I. DH：Khris Davis。
J. UT：Chad Pinder。
(6) Jonathan Lucroy去年在遊騎兵與洛磯隊的成績表現(今年32歲；去年薪水：$5.25MM)：
G H HR RBI SO BB BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+
123 112 6 40 51 46 .265 .345 .371 .716 84