Tim Heitman – USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies have acquired catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later.
Lucroy, 31, has been having a down year by his standards, having hit .242/.279/.338 with four home runs and 27 RBIs in 77 games. His 66 wRC+ is the lowest mark of his career, along with his -0.5 WAR per Baseball Reference.
He has struggled mightily in July, hitting only .167 with zero home runs in 18 games, but the Rockies hope he can regain his swing in the thin Denver air. As an offensive player who’s going to be a free agent this offseason, this relocation could end up being the best thing for him.
The Rockies have a very young pitching staff featuring four rookies, and with their current catcher Tony Wolters in his sophomore season, Lucroy’s veteran guidance will be just as valuable as his bat.
Before this season, Lucroy was in the conversation for best offensive catcher in the game. The two-time All Star finished fourth in MVP voting in 2014 when he hit .301/.373/.465 with 13 home runs, 69 RBIs and an MLB-leading 53 doubles in 153 games. He is a career .280/.339/.433 hitter.
