The Rule That Could Cause Braun Trade Early
As you know, we’re on Ryan Braun watch all winter. If a move happens, we’ll be there to cover it. We talked last week about how it looks like Braun could stay a Brewer for the 2017 season. There are no rumors saying elsewhere, but MLB.com writer Adam McCalvy linked to an article discussing the 10-5 rule players have and Braun is eligible in May. You’re probably wondering 10-5? Let MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovice explain….
Conceivably, there are times when no-trade protection can encourage a trade, as opposed to hampering it.Ryan Braun, for instance, can block trades to all but six teams. But in May of the coming season, he’ll attain 10-and-5 rights and will then be able to veto a trade to any team. So there could be incentive for the rebuilding Brewers to move him to one of those six (and the Dodgers, notably, are on that short list) sooner rather than later.
Braun can veto any trade by end of May on the day Brewers called him up years ago. Would this affect Braun’s market value? No, but it makes it more difficult on Brewers General Manager David Stearns. He needs to get Braun’s approval, and if Braun rejects the deal, there’s this awkward holding pattern both the player and the team are in with angry fans added in. Throw in the saga with Jonathan Lucroy, Stearns will really look like the bad guy even if that’s patently false.
All this being said, there have been zero Braun rumors. We know Los Angeles Dodgers are out there, and they have the best farm system in baseball with young talent bursting from its seams. The Zack Greinke deal happened this coming weekend five years ago. That came out of nowhere and picked up steam throughout the night on Saturday then made official on Sunday. We see baseball moves made during these last two weeks before the holiday season.
If you end up sitting on Santa’s lap before the Christmas season ends, maybe ask him if Braun can stay a Brewer or Stearns gets such a huge return that we should already start a championship parade in two year, therefore, Braun doesn’t matter much.
Charlie.