Catcher expects return to top form
MESA, Ariz. — The A’s benefited from a stagnant free-agent market that left many players unsigned entering spring training, including two-time All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
Lucroy officially joined the A’s on Monday, the recipient of a one-year, $6.5 million contract. Manager Bob Melvin anticipates Lucroy catching 115 to 120 games.
“This was an opportunity we probably would not have had in other offseasons,” general manager David Forst said at Hohokam Stadium, where Lucroy worked out with his new team. “I can’t remember signing a major-league free agent in March prior to this.”
Lucroy will get at-bats at the minor-league complex for two or three days before joining the A’s lineup. His first assignment Monday was catching top prospect A.J. Puk on a side field.
Like many free agents, Lucroy was forced to settle for less than anticipated.
“There are a lot of good players out there, guys that are All-Stars in the past, guys that might’ve had bad years or guys
that had really good years and couldn’t get a job,” Lucroy said. “It’s difficult because no one knows why, but I think it was a perfect storm. I think it was a combination of a lot of things.”
He said his focus is on fitting in with the A’s and helping a young rotation that has struggled in spring training.
“I’m here to put this uniform on and go play and get back to where I used to be,” Lucroy said. “The player I was last year is not who I am. I believe that fully.”
Lucroy’s numbers slipped offensively and defensively in 2017. He hit .265 with six homers, 40 RBIs and a .716 OPS, a significant drop from 2016 (.292, 24, 81 and .855).
On defense, Lucroy has had a solid reputation working with pitchers and framing pitches, but advanced metrics weren’t kind to him last year, and he admitted to having bad mechanics.
“Really, honestly, just bad,” Lucroy said of his 2017 defense. “I had no excuses on last year. I just didn’t play well. I wasn’t who I was. My track record speaks for itself.
“Last year was an aberration. I fully believe that. I know what I’m worth. I know what I’ve done, and I know that defensively, I have some work to do, which I already started doing in the offseason, and I definitely plan on being right back in the mix.”
Lucroy was waiting on work at his home in Dallas, giving him extra time with his family, which was a blessing because his wife, Sarah, gave birth to the couple’s second child on Friday, a boy. They have a 7-year-old girl.
Lucroy, who played on three playoff teams and was a teammate of A’s designated hitter/ left fielder Khris Davis and coach Mark Kotsay in Milwaukee, is playing for his fourth team in three years.
“We could really sneak up on some people,” Lucroy said. “We have a lot of young players, a very good lineup, good defense. If we pitch, I think we’re going to be right in there. And that’s where I come in.”
Lucroy has been forced to quickly learn pitching staffs — he was traded during each of the past two seasons — and with the March 29 season opener fast approaching, he’ll need to do it again.
“If we couldn’t go out and get ourselves a starting pitcher, this is the next best thing,” Melvin said. “He’s got a lot of experience and a great reputation for being a terrific leader behind the plate.”
Lucroy’s presence means less playing time for Bruce Maxwell and Josh Phegley. Would Maxwell benefit as the only lefthanded-hitting catcher on the 40-man roster? “Potentially,” Melvin said. “We haven’t made any decisions yet.”
The A’s kept in contact with Lucroy’s agent for a month, and Forst said, “His availability turned into a really good opportunity for us. Ownership is really excited about this and gave us the go-ahead.”
To make room on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated lefty Jairo Labourt for assignment.