The A's have reached a one-year deal with veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy, a source has told MLB.com's Jane Lee.Arguably this winter's top free-agent catcher, Lucroy is a logical addition for a club seeking more consistency at the position. Oakland will not have to give up any talent via a trade or Draft pick compensation since Lucroy was ineligible for a qualifying offer.Lucroy would provide an upgrade at a position arguably in need of one. Though he had a down year offensively in 2017, Lucroy's veteran presence behind the plate could provide guidance for a young A's pitching staff that could benefit from an experienced receiver.
Oakland's current catching setup has Bruce Maxwell starting, with Josh Phegley and Dustin Garneau currently competing for the backup role.Manager Bob Melvin had no comment on the rumored signing, but when asked his opinion about his team's current catching combination, replied: "We think it's a good tandem. You're always looking to upgrade, at any position. We do have a young staff, especially a starting staff."Lucroy, 31, is coming off a season in which he slashed .265/.345/.371 between stints with the Rangers and Rockies, though he capped the year in Colorado hitting .310 over 46 games and proved to be a valuable addition for the club's young rotation as it reached the postseason. Though his power numbers dwindled from years past -- he hit six homers last year, compared to 24 in 2016 -- Lucroy is widely considered one of the game's better offensive catchers. He is a two-time All-Star and finished fourth in the National League MVP Award voting in 2014.Assuming he does join the A's, Lucroy would push Maxwell to a backup role. Maxwell slashed .237/.329/.333 over 76 games in '17. He logged three homers and drove in 22 runs.Daniel Kramer and Alyson Footer/ MLB.com
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