Preise » ng duties but neither has been productive -- Gim

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians could be nearing a trade for Milwaukee All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy.According to several reports late Saturday night, the teams have an agreement in place for a deal that would send Lucroy to the Indians in exchange for four minor league prospects. Lucroy must waive his no-trade clause for the deal to completed, FOX Sports reported .Neither team commented on the proposed swap.The Indians lead the AL Central by 4 1/2 games over Detroit. They have been in the market for a catcher since Yan Gomes separated his right shoulder earlier this month, and Cleveland has been actively looking to upgrade its offense for several weeks.Lucroy was held out of Milwaukees lineup Saturday night, a signal the teams were closing in on a trade. Hes batting .300 with 13 homers and 50 RBI.Three of the players reportedly headed to the Brewers are catcher Francisco Mejia, shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang and outfielder Greg Allen -- all three have been in Class A this season.The Indians have been on top of their division for most of the season, and with one of baseballs best starting rotations, they believe they can win the pennant and perhaps follow their next-door neighbors, the Cavaliers, and win another championship for Cleveland.The Cavs ended the citys 52-year title drought in June, coming back to beat Golden State in the NBA Finals.Lucroy can certainly help.The 30-year-old would give the Indians another right-handed bat to bolster a lineup that has struggled at times to keep pace with Clevelands solid pitching staff. Lucroy is making $4 million this season and the Brewers own a $5.25 million option on him for 2017, a contract that fits within the Indians payroll and will be more than worth every penny if he can push them over the top.Its possible that Lucroy could be asking the Indians for an extension on his current deal or to increase the value of his option for next season.The Indians have been searching for an infusion of offense all season.Former All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley has appeared in only 11 games after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in November. Brantley returned in late April, but still felt pain and has been sidelined since May 9. Brantley was making progress during a recent minor league rehab assignment but sustained a setback and has been shut down. He underwent another minor procedure on his shoulder but its uncertain if hell play again this season.Clevelands catching situation has been a problem as well.Gomes was batting just .165 in 71 games before he got hurt when he fell while running to first base on July 17. Hes expected to miss at least another month. With Gomes out, Chris Gimenez and Roberto Perez have been sharing catching duties but neither has been productive -- Gimenez entered Saturdays game batting .200 and Perez, who missed six weeks with a broken thumb, is in a 1-for-23 slump.The Indians were in the mix to acquire Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, but felt the price was too high and the left-hander ended up with the Chicago Cubs. Cleveland has been reluctant to pull off a major deal at the risk of losing either Brad Zimmer or Clint Frazier, the top two minor leaguers in their system.Cleveland has also been looking to add another reliever before Mondays 4 p.m. trade deadline. 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He still has a hunch the Americans finally will win, mainly because of the European team they are facing.I do believe the Euros have got, at least on paper, the worst team theyve had in many years, Miller said Saturday at the Tour Championship.Europe is going after its fourth straight victory -- and ninth out of the past 11 -- in the Ryder Cup next week in Minnesota at Hazeltine National. Europe has six rookies on its 12-man team. It has never won a Ryder Cup with that many rookies when the matches were in America.I just think with all those rookies ... when you lose [Ian] Poulter, its like tearing your heart out, Miller said. I think this is the year not only could the U.S. win, they could win by like five points.Poulter led Europe to a record-tying comeback the last time the Ryder Cup was held on U.S. soil, making five straight birdies in a fourballs match Saturday night at Medinah that gave his team hope going into Sunday singles, which it won to overcome a 10-6 deficit.Poulter is recovering from a foot injury and will be at Hazeltine as a vice captain.Miller, a two-time major champion and now the lead analyst for NBC Sportts, played in only two Ryder Cups when it was one-sided.dddddddddddd He went 6-2-2, and the Americans won those two Ryder Cups (1975 and 1981) by a combined 19 points.Miller said the Americans would look down the European roster and see plenty of strong Ryder Cup players in Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and perhaps even Masters champion Danny Willett, one of the six rookies.But theres a bunch of guys you just dont have that much confidence in, Miller said. Even [Lee] Westwood, I dont know if he can make putts in Ryder Cup pressure. Chris Wood? Who knows? Thomas Pieters has a good game for Hazeltine, but he might melt under Ryder Cup pressure.Love said during a radio interview Friday that the Americans dont have to do anything super human to win the Ryder Cup because were a great team. This is the best golf team maybe ever assembled.Miller was on the 1981 Ryder Cup team that is regarded as the best, with 11 players who combined to win 49 majors. Nine of them are in the Hall of Fame.Asked if this U.S. team could match his 1981 team, Miller smiled and said, No. This is not at that level. ' ' '