Trade talks between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers centered around Ryan Braun reportedly heated up last season, with the clubs said to have discussed a deal up to the non-waiver deadline.
It’s believed Los Angeles included Brandon McCarthy and Yasiel Puig in a trade package for the six-time All-Star. While Braun ultimately was not moved, even after clearing waivers in August, the general consensus held the Brewers and Dodgers would revisit trade talks during the offseason.
There appeared to be little, if any, traction on that front, and the clock now ticks toward Braun becoming a player with 10-and-5 rights, which grant him a full no-trade clause. Until that point, the 33-year-old has a list of six teams approved for trade.
According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Dodgers not only remain on it but are Braun’s preferred destination:
Braun kept the Dodgers on his six-team list of teams he can be traded to. That remains the one team he wouldn’t mind being traded to, whereas it is believed he’d prefer to stay in Milwaukee than go to any of the other five.
In May of 2016, the list of teams that were free to trade for Braun were the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
The Mission Hills, Calif., native is coming off a strong 2016 campaign in which he was among the league leaders in several offensive categories against left-handed pitching. Overall, Braun hit .305/.365/.538 with 23 doubles, 30 home runs, 90 RBI and a 136 OPS+.
Beyond the limited no-trade clause, what remains a stumbling block in the Brewers potentially moving Braun is he’s owed $72 million over the next four seasons. There’s speculation Braun will either be traded to the Dodgers or remain with the Brewers.
