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Washington Nationals Rumors: Nats interested in Jonathan Lucroy, but on catcher's no-trade list

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported on Twitter this afternoon that his sources say the Washington Nationals have expressed interest in catcher Jonathan Lucroy, but the Nats are reportedly on the Milwaukee Brewers' backstop's no-trade list.

By Patrick Reddington
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has written previously, earlier this winter about the Washington Nationals checking in on the availability of Milwaukee Brewers' catcher Jonathan Lucroy:

"The Rangers, Athletics and Nationals are among the teams that have engaged in trade discussions with the Brewers about catcher Jonathan Lucroy, only to back off when they perceived the price to be too high, according to major-league sources.

"Lucroy, who has a limited no-trade clause, remains a candidate to get moved..."

Rosenthal updated those previous reports this afternoon, writing on Twitter that the Nats are indeed one of the teams to check in on Lucroy, though Washington is reportedly one of eight teams on the 29-year-old catcher's no-trade list:

Lucroy signed a 5-year/$11M extension with the Brewers in 2012, which pays him $4M this season (2016) with the club option Rosenthal mentions at $5.25M for 2017 or a $250K buyout.

He missed time with a broken toe and concussion issues last season, finishing the year with a .264/.326/.391 line, 20 doubles and seven home runs in 103 games and 415 plate appearances, over which he was worth 1.1 fWAR, down from 6.1 fWAR in a .301/.373/.465, 53 double, 13 home run season over 153 games and 655 PAs in 2014.

Would Lucroy waive the no-trade protection if Rosenthal's sources are correct and Washington is on it if the Nationals would consider talking extension? Wilson Ramos, the incumbent catcher in D.C., is set to hit free agency after this season and so far there have been no reports that they've talked extension with the 28-year-old backstop.

Should D.C. fans prepare themselves for another "he doesn't want to play for the Nationals" situation to play out?

We wrote about the possibility of the Nationals upgrading their catching corps this weekend:

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