Lucoy dealt from Brewers to Rangers

Within one hour, the Texas Rangers went from trade-deadline paupers to American League favorites, parlaying a package of prospects into catcher Jonathan Lucroy, reliever Jeremy Jeffress and outfielder Carlos Beltran in a pair of deals that shook the foundation of the wide-open AL.

Here’s my take Jonathan LUCROY could have been with a 1st place team like the Cleveland Indians instead he decides to try to have a clause removed to make him a free agent come-on MAN really.

The Mets were ready to move on from Lucroy (.299 average, 13 homers, 50 RBIs) on Saturday evening, convinced that the price tag was too high. He is due roughly $1.5 million the rest of this season, after which he has a $5.2 million team option for 2017.

To get Lucroy, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reported the Rangers gave up outfielder Lewis Brinson and right-hander Luis Ortiz. Jeffress compiled a 2.22 ERA in 47 appearances as the Brewers closer this season.

Earlier in the hour, the Rangers sent their No. 1 pick a year ago, right-hander Dillon Tate, along with two lesser-regarded prospects to the Yankees for Beltran. And on the days leading up to the deadline, we’ve seen some of those players be traded (and one such player then veto his trade).

Ortiz was selected by Texas in the first round (30th overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. He batted.237 (72-for-304) with 11 HR, 40 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 77 games at Double-A Frisco this season.

Ortiz, 20, is 4-6 with a 3.48 ERA for two clubs in the Rangers’ minor league system.

Stearns said the Brewers were got “a lot of future value” for Lucroy and Jeffress by adding the former Rangers first-round picks that he called “premium players”.

Beltran has been in the league since 1998, making the postseason five times with four different teams. Robinson Chirinos has started 33 games, most since coming off the disabled list in early June after missing 53 games because of a broken bone in his right forearm.

SMITH SENT TO GIANTS: The NL West-leading San Francisco Giants acquired left-handed reliever Will Smith from the Brewers to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run, sending catcher Andrew Susac and pitching prospect Phil Bickford to Milwaukee. The 36-year-old Hill is 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts and on the DL because of a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand that hasn’t healed.

Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg tries to become the first pitcher in the majors with 15 wins this season when he starts at Arizona. He was originally selected by Milwaukee in the first round (16th overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.