Braun grateful for ovation with uncertain future

MILWAUKEE — The ovations grew louder with each of Ryan Braun’s four trips to the batter’s box on Sunday at Miller Park, culminating with a long cheer in the eighth inning that drew a ceremonial tip of the cap from the six-time All-Star. Braun struck out to end the inning.

When the clubhouse doors opened to reporters after the Brewers’ home finale, Braun was there to acknowledge those swings may mark the end of an era.

“I think that people here, at least most of them, recognize there is at least a chance that today is my last home game as a Brewer,” Braun said in the wake of a 4-2 loss to the Reds. “I don’t think there is a great chance, but certainly a higher chance than at any point in the 10 years that I’ve spent here.”

Braun, the former first-round Draft pick who broke in as the National League Rookie of the Year in 2007, won the NL MVP Award in 2011, batted third for the Brewers’ only two postseason entries in the past 34 seasons and returned from a PED suspension to set the franchise home run record, has a contract through 2020 at a market-suitable rate. But the Brewers are just finishing the first full season of their full-blown rebuild, and Braun is their most valuable asset. That makes him a trade candidate.

The possibility of a trade became acute at the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline and again on Aug. 31, when the Brewers were in serious talks with the …

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