Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
After the Detroit Tigers traded Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers, it showed that anyone in Major League Baseball is expendable. That could even include a superstar who is the face of a small market team. After a rumor about Ryan Braun began making the rounds Wednesday, the question has to be asked how serious the Milwaukee Brewers are with dealing the slugger.
“We have no intentions of trading Ryan,” Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “There’s absolutely no truth to that. We’ve never contacted any team about Ryan.”
Well, there you have it.
The Brewers have been linked to several trade rumors lately, with the New York Mets being a big target. Matthew Cerrone over at MetsBlog is the one who started the rumor mill involving Braun after he made the claim that “people familiar with the team’s thinking” had the discussion of a possible Braun trade.
Melvin did admit that several teams have contacted him with questions about Braun’s availability. However, he has turned everyone down because the organization has no intentions of trading the former National League MVP.
It appears Milwaukee fans are divided on the topic, something Wisconsin fans are used to by now. Some believe getting rid of Braun is the only way to turn the franchise around. The fact that he lied and burned so many bridges inside and outside of the organization means he may never be able to regain the trust that is necessary in a clubhouse.
On the other hand, many people, including me, believe that Braun cannot be dealt because the only way to Brewers will ever make it back to the postseason is with a superstar on the roster. He proved last year that the performance-enhancing drugs he took in 2011 wasn’t necessarily to improve his game, but rather, heal his injuries quicker so he wouldn’t miss as much time out of the lineup.
There is the obvious concern that Braun will not perform at the same level as the Brewers have grown accustom to. However, I believe he will still be a legitimate presence for many years to come. The biggest issue for him could be the mental part of the game.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
