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David Stearns faces criticism for a controversial trade decision involving Jonathan Lucroy during the 2016 deadline. Lucroy's no-trade clause prevented a move to the Cleveland Guardians, leading to fan outrage.
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The 2016 trade deadline left Cleveland Guardians fans furious at Jonathan Lucroy. For years, the narrative was simple â a star catcher rejected a trade to a World Series contender, end of story.
On an appearance on âTo The Majors," Lucroy finally told the full story, and it reveals a front office power play that changes everything about how you see that decision.
Lucroy, a two-time All-Star, had a no-trade clause built into his contract with Milwaukee â specifically, an 18-team list of destinations he had the right to block.
Cleveland was on that list.
Not out of disrespect for the franchise or the city, but for strategic reasons that any agent or player would understand: roster fit, playing time, and protecting his value heading into free agency.
It was a business decision, just like the ones front offices make every single day.
The Brewers â led at the time by David Stearns, now president of baseball operations for the Mets â knew the list. They agreed to the list. And according to Lucroy, they had even been told upfront: if youâre targeting a team on that no-trade, come to us first.
Work something out. Thereâs room for a conversation.
That conversation never happened.
Instead, Lucroy was pulled from a game mid-season and walked into a room with Stearns, Craig Counsell, and several other staffers.
âDavid Sterns looks at me and he says, âWe just traded you to a World Series contending team,ââ Lucroy said in the YouTube video.
The controversy stems from Stearns' decision during the 2016 trade deadline when Lucroy, who had a no-trade clause, rejected a trade to the Cleveland Guardians, causing fan backlash.
Lucroy rejected the trade because the Guardians were on his 18-team no-trade clause list, which allowed him to block the move.
Cleveland Guardians fans were left furious after Lucroy's rejection of the trade, which was perceived as a missed opportunity for the team to acquire a star catcher.
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No heads-up. No negotiation. No compensation.
Just a done deal â except it wasnât, because of the no-trade clause. And when Lucroy asked the obvious follow-up question â who was the team â the answer stunned him.
They wouldnât tell him.
Lucroy walked out of the room, made a few calls, and figured it out on his own within minutes. And then came the move that still clearly stings.
âWithin 10 minutes, story comes out... They leaked it on purpose to force me to say yes,â Lucroy said.
Lucroy took two days to think it over, made calls to clarify his expected role in Cleveland, and ultimately declined.
And when Clevelandâs front office was pressed about whether Lucroy would catch regularly with Yan Gomes healthy, the answer was candid: probably not.
For Monday nightâs series opener versus the Rockies, Mets -1.5 run line is listed at +112 on FanDuel. Our comprehensive FanDuel Sportsbook review makes it easy to figure out how to use their app.
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