Milwaukee Brewers All-Star outfielder Ryan Braun earned 10-and-5 rights on Sunday and now holds a full no-trade clause. Braun is in his 11th season with the Brewers since being drafted by the organization No. 5 overall in 2005.
Braun is currently on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left calf muscle. He’d also recently suffered from forearm pain as well.
Up to Sunday, the 33-year-old already held strong veto power as he could block a trade to 23 teams. Braun’s list of teams approved for trade included the Los Angeles Dodgers. There was speculation at the trade deadline last season the Brewers and Dodgers were close to a deal.
While a trade never manifested, it set an expectation that the two sides would revisit talks during the offseason. Though, that seemingly didn’t gain much traction.
While the 10-and-5 rights on the surface present somewhat of a stumbling block to the Brewers potentially moving the right-handed slugger, Braun doesn’t believe there’s much of a change considering the select teams that possibly would have acquired him prior to Sunday.
If he were to be traded, the Dodgers are viewed as the most likely landing spot. Los Angeles has shown a willingness to absorb payroll, and a bat of Braun’s magnitude would aid some of the club’s deficiencies against left-handed pitching.
On the season, Braun is batting .287/.374/.574 with six doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBI in 27 games.
