Ryan Braun Trade Talks

Despite the fact that it's still early in the year and the trade deadline isn't for another few months, trade talks including Ryan Braun have already popped up. Braun's current team, the Brewers, have struggled the past few season, consistently near the bottom of their division. Braun has been a career Brewer, and is the face of the franchise, but is it time for him to go? Braun is in his age 33 season, and is under contract till 2020, with a mutual option for 2021.Braun is making over $15 million dollars every year till his contract ends, and has a partial no-trade clause in his contract, so Braun won't be the easiest piece to move. Despite this however, there is one team that is almost a perfect fit for Braun, and that team is the Dodgers. The Dodgers are one of the few teams that can handle Braun's expensive salary, and the Dodgers are one of the teams he can be traded to, due to the partial no-trade clause. Braun would be a perfect fit in LA for several reasons. The first reason is that the Dodgers still have trouble hitting left handed pitching, and out of every active player today, Ryan Braun has the highest OPS vs. left handed pitching. This makes Braun a great fit in the middle of the Dodger's lineup, helping the team score against southpaws. The second reason is Braun's consistency. Ryan Braun has been one of the most consistent players the past few years, even on Milwaukee, a team that hasn't won a lot the past few years. The Dodgers would be getting a consistent, lefty dominating hitter, who can play both corner outfield positions, and still run very well. Braun would also be a mentor to the young guys like Julio Urias, and Joc Peterson among others. A return for Braun isn't clear yet, but the Dodger's farm system would definitely be able to find players to trade for Braun. It's a move that makes sense, and talks in the past between each team's GM have occurred making this deal even more likely to happen. If the Brewers are sellers at the deadline, and the price is right, by the end of the season you might see Ryan Braun in Dodger blue.