While the Los Angeles Dodgers were linked to several right-handed batters throughout the offseason, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun somewhat surprisingly was not among them.
The Brewers and Dodgers reportedly held trade talks centered around Braun prior to the non-waiver deadline last July, and some noted the discussions went down to the final minute. Los Angeles was believed to have offered a trade package that included Brandon McCarthy and Yasiel Puig.
Braun went on to clear waivers in August, which fueled speculation for a potential trade with the Dodgers, but that proved to be more smoke than fire.
With Braun months away from earning a no-trade clause as a player with 10-and-5 rights, the general expectation is he will remain with the Brewers or be traded to the Dodgers, according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
One person familiar with the situation said he thought it was 99 percent Braun would remain with the Brewers or go to the Dodgers.
Braun is coming off his most productive season since 2012. Not only was he among the league leaders in nearly every offensive category against left-handed pitching, the 33-year-old wasn’t a completely liability defensively.
Beyond his current limited no-trade clause, what remains a stumbling block in the Brewers potentially moving their slugger is Braun is owed $72 million over the next four seasons.
The Dodgers do have the financial prowess to absorb Braun, and the contracts to balance the exchange of salaries in a trade, but the likelihood of a deal appears less plausible now than several months ago.
That of course could very easily change by the 2017 non-waiver trade deadline.
