Catcher Lucroy too good to pass on

MESA, ARIZ. >> It’s been a busy week for new A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

The A’s officially announced the signing of the two-time All-Star to a oneyear deal Monday morning before a 6-5 loss to the Giants, designating lefthanded pitcher Jairo Labourt for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

But that wasn’t even the most momentous thing that’s happened in Lucroy’s life over the past few days.

Lucroy’s wife, Sarah, gave birth to their second child, Easton, on Friday morning just before reports surfaced later that evening saying the A’s had agreed to a contract with the catcher.

“We’ve had a little bit going on, to say the least,” Lucroy said. “I’m glad to get back on the field and get back after it.”

A’s general manager David Forst maintained throughout the offseason that the club was content to enter the regular season with the duo of Bruce Maxwell and Josh Phegley behind the plate.

Forst said that mindset never changed, but after Lucroy remained unsigned for so long in what has been a bizarre free agent market, the A’s had engaged in talks with Lucroy’s agent for the past month. The opportunity to get Lucroy on a manageable deal, reportedly a guaranteed $6.5 million, excited ownership to the point they decided it was too good to pass up.

“His reputation for handling pitchers, receiving and throwing, this is a guy who is a two-time AllStar we didn’t expect to be available,” Forst said. “His availability turned into a good opportunity for us.”

Lucroy is familiar with the A’s young talent, having played in the American League West the past two years with the Rangers.

He said the talent is there to surprise people by making a playoff run in 2018, even in a tough division that features reigning World Series champions in the Astros and a much-improved Angels squad.

“I know from calling a game against them, they’ve got some good hitters in that lineup,” Lucroy said. “We’ve got some good young arms on the mound and in the bullpen. I really think we could sneak up on some people and compete at a high level. Our division is going to be good, but we’re gonna be right there with him.”

Staying at home in Dallas unsigned for a majority of the offseason, Lucroy said he stayed in shape by making a trip down to the University of Lousiana at Lafayette, his alma mater, to work out with the school’s baseball team.

With the regular season less than three weeks away, Lucroy is notworried about the shortened time to adjust to his new team. He is used to learning how to catch new pitchers in a short amount of time, having been traded in the middle of the season the past two years.

“I have experience in the past of going to a team in the midseason, having to learn on the fly a bullpen and the starting staff,” Lucroy said. “Both times I’ve done a pretty good job at it, so I’m pretty comfortable by now.”

Lucroy likened the A’s starting staff to the one he caught with the Rockies last season. The oldest pitcher in Colorado’s rotation was 27, which is expected to be the case with the A’s this year.

Acquired by the Rockies at the deadline last year, Lucroy helped Colorado reach the National League wild-card game.

Lauded by former teammates forhis ability tohandle a pitching staff, Lucroy hopes to work with the many young A’s pitchers to help establishing communication and understand each of their strengths and weaknesses.

“That’s what it’s all about. Taking what they do best and trying tomake that better for them,” Lucroy said. “Try to simplify their approach and really just do anything I can to work along with them to get hitters out. These guys are definitely capable of doing well.”

One of the best hitting catchers in baseball from 2012-16, Lucroy’s numbers at the plate took a significant dip last year as he hit .265 with six home runs and 40 RBIs. Known as a terrific pitch framer in the past, Lucroy’s defensive analytic ratings also seemed to drop.

Lucroy said he did not play to his full potential, but that last season’s numbers do not mean he’s washed up. He referenced his contact rate of 87.9 percent in 2017, which was the highest in baseball, leading him to believe the down year was an aberration.

“I got no excuse on last year. I just didn’t play well. That wasn’t who I was,” Lucroy said. “My track record speaks for itself. I fully believe that. I know what I’m worth andI knowwhat I’ve done.

“Defensively, I have some work to do, which I’ve already been doing in the offseason. I definitely plan on being right back in the mix.”