MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players Rangers should acquire

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Apr 29, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) reacts after getting called out on strikes in the seventh inning by home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers

At the trade deadline last year, the Rangers were able to strike a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for Lucroy. Could the teams hook up again for another career Brewer?

Milwaukee lost four in a row heading into the weekend, which when coupled with a three-game winning streak by the Cubs, cost the Brewers their lead atop the AL Central. Milwaukee is still two games above .500 and alive in both the division and Wild Card races, so it’s too early to call them a seller. But the Crew was expected to still be in rebuilding mode when the 2017 began, and probably isn’t deep enough to be a true contender this year.

Ryan Braun was reportedly nearly traded to the Dodgers last summer, so he’s likely to be available again this summer if the right package comes along. However, because of the baggage that would come with him from a PED suspension in 2013, as well as the contract he holds (which still includes $56 through 2020 with $4 million and a mutual option for 2021), the Brewers probably wouldn’t get the ideal cache of prospects they would hope to get.

Next: MLB Trade Rumors: 5 moves Tigers should make

Nevertheless, Braun might be worth pursuing. When healthy, he is still one of the best pure right-handed hitters in baseball. Braun hit .305/.365/.538 with 30 home runs, 91 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 2016. The 33-year-old is hitting .262/.350/.524 with seven homers, 19 RBI and four steals through 30 games this season, though he is also battling a lingering calf injury and went back on the DL Friday.

Braun has full 10-and-5 trade veto rights, but Texas may convince him to allow a trade that would enable him to play for a winner alongside his former teammate Lucroy.

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