Factory Of Sadness
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Jonathan Lucroy Vetoes Cleveland Indians Trade, Tribe Lands Andrew Miller

By Nick Dudukovich

Jul 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) drives in a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Milwaukee won 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) drives in a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Milwaukee won 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jonathan Lucroy vetoed the Cleveland Indians trade, as he chose to stay with loser Milwaukee over a winner in Cleveland. Meanwhile the Andrew Miller trade shows The Cleveland Indians Are All In To Win The World Series.

The Cleveland Indians are going all in to win the World Series–even if Jonathan Lucroy doesn’t want to play in Cleveland.

News broke Sunday that Lucroy was going to use his no-trade clause and not accept the deal the Indians reach with the Brewers that would’ve sent prospects Francisco Mejia and Yu-Cheng Chang to the Brewers.

It was widely speculated the Indians were going to have to kick in some money to Lucroy to make him waive his no-trade clause. That didn’t happen, and it looks like it won’t according to Paul Hoynes, as the Cleveland.com writer tweeted the Indians won’t be negotiating with the Brewers backstop.

Still, it’s expected the Indians will continue to try and convince Lucroy to waive his no-trade clause.

Also on Sunday, the Tribe landed left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the Yankees for the Tribe’s No. 1 prospect, Clint Frazier, as well as highly coveted pitching prospect Justus Sheffield.

Giving up Frazier and Sheffield was a high price to pay for a pitcher that won’t be the team’s closer. But the Indians needed left-handed help out of the pen, and now they have it.

Too often, Indians fans find themselves bashing their heads over not trading Jaret Wright for Pedro Martinez back in 1997. Had the Indians pulled the trigger on that trade, we all might still be wearing four World Series Championship shirts from the late 90’s.

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The Dolan family has often talked about ponying up for when the Indians get close to contention, and this is arguably the best position the team’s been in since Dick Jacobs sold the team before the new millennium.

With the Indians rotation among the best in baseball, the front office had to capitalize off their stable of thoroughbred arms. The rotation promises to be strong for the foreseeable future, but you can’t cement that in stone. Just look at the Mets.

Last October, New York looked like it would be in the World Series for next five years based off their starting pitching. Now, injuries have caught up Mets pitchers, and their future is cloudy.

Miller is coming off his first All-Star appearance and has a 1.77 ERA to go along with a 0.77 WHIP. He’s struck out 77 batters in 45 1/3 innings pitched. Miller is under contract through the 2018 season.

Thinking of Frazier rising to superstardom in Yankee pinstripes makes me sick, but the Indians did what they needed to do to win now. With the emergence and Tyler Naquin at the Major-League level, and with Bradley Zimmer still on the farm, the Tribe had outfield depth to trade.

Next: Frank Robinson Star Of HOF Weekend

It’s World Series or bust for the 2016 Cleveland Indians. Let’s all just enjoy the ride. Too bad for Lucroy, he won’t be around to see it.

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