Evaluating The Most Likely Milwaukee Brewers Trade Chips

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers are in the midst of a multi-year rebuilding strategy, and could trade any number of their established players by the July 31 MLB trade deadline.

Players such as Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun, Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith and others could be on the move this week, and could result in a very different-looking team in Brewtown by August.

The Brewers ongoing philosophy under General Manager David Sterns has been to look for young talent at the expense of trading established players. Hitters that can get on base at a higher rate, and young pitchers that can be called up to the majors in subsequent years (with team-friendly contracts over a six-year period) are the team's stated priorities.

Let's take a look at some of the leading candidates who could be dealt.

Jonathan Lucroy

Arguably the top prize in this year's MLB trade season, the 30-year-old catcher was drafted in the third round of the 2007 MLB draft, and made his major-league debut with the Brewers in May of 2010 at the age of 23.

Lucroy was a two-time all star with the Brewers, earning a spot on the national league team in the midsummer classic in 2014 and 2016.

Lucroy had enjoyed many fine seasons in his 7-year career with the Brewers, leading the league in doubles in 2014, and hitting over .300 in 2012, 2014 and so far in 2016.

One of Lucroy's most accomplished attributes, experts say, is his ability to frame pitchers' pitches - effectively using his body and skill to make pitches outside of the strike zone appear as though they are strikes.

According to an ESPN magazine article in 2015 titled "Jonathan Lucroy Needs a Raise," Lucroy produced 121 stolen strikes in the previous season, and in the past five seasons clocks in at more than 1,000, the most in MLB. And if you believe the metrics, these stolen strikes have been worth about 18 wins during his five-year career.

2016 Contract Status: Signed thru 2016, 5 yrs/$10.28M (12-16) & 17 team option (details)

Service Time (01/2016): 5.136,

Free Agent: 2017

Ryan Braun

Milwaukee's most recent MVP and all-star outfielder is 32 years old and entering a cost-prohibitive five-year contract. His previous history with performance-enhancing drugs related suspension, makes Braun a tricky player to deal at the deadline.

Still, the outfielder is enjoying one of his better seasons as a Brewer, hitting over .300 and getting on base more than 37 percent of the time - which is desirable in any MLB lineup. According to advanced metrics available online, such as Fangraphs, Braun is always going to be a below-average fielder, but has taken over left field duties this year and has been decent.

2016 Contract Status: Signed thru 2020, 5 yrs/$105M (16-20) & 21 mutual option

Service Time (01/2016): 8.129,

Free Agent: 2021

Jeremy Jeffress

The 28-year-old right-hander was Milwaukee's eighth-inning man last season and has adapted to become the team's closer this season, collecting 23 saves in just over a half-season's worth of work.

He's another one of Milwaukee's solid bullpen men with a low annual salary and three more years of cost-controlled and team-friendly contracts. He becomes a free agent in 2020.

Mostly a fastball/curveball pitcher, Jeffress throws his fastball at an average of 95.6 miles per hour, while his curveball flutters in at just over 80 miles per hour.

2016 Contract Status: Signed thru 2016, 1 yr/$519k

Service Time (01/2016): 2.104,

Arb Eligible: 2017,

Free Agent: 2020

Will Smith

Powerfully-built Will Smith, a 27-year-old left-handed reliever, is a desirable trade target because of his reputation as a solid late-inning reliever. He's also left-handed. The old saying is that if you're left-handed, you have a job for life.

He also has three more years before he is eligible for free agency, making him an above-average and low-cost bullpen option. Teams love picking up players who fit this profile. This year he has only surrendered 10 hits in 18 innings pitched, and has a 2.00 ERA.

2016 Contract Status: Signed thru 2016, 1 yr/$1.48M (16) (details)

Service Time (01/2016): 2.155,

Arb Eligible: 2017,

Free Agent: 2020

Tyler Thornburg

Another player teams are taking a look at is Thornburg, Milwaukee's off-again-on-again starter who has now settled into a bullpen role.

Dave Cameron, writer for Fangraphs, calls Thornburg is favorite "under the radar" acquisition this year, saying:

Everything Thornburg throws is harder this year, with his curveball up a remarkable four miles per hour. And along with throwing more of a power curveball, Thornburg is now getting significantly more movement on the pitch.

No reliever has thrown at least 100 curveballs this season and is getting more vertical movement with the pitch than Thornburg. And forget just relievers for a moment; here’s the 10 best swinging strike rates on curveballs for all pitchers who have thrown at least 100 curves this year.

That's high praise for the young reliever, who has seen his fastball, curveball and changeup velocity all improve between 2-3 miles per hour this year - which is a notable jump across the board.

2016 Contract Status: Signed thru 2016, 1 yr/$514k (16)

Service Time (01/2016): 2.057,

Arb Eligible: 2017,

Free Agent: 2020

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