Rumor Roundup: Braun deals with trade talk

The Hot Stove season is underway, and we’re keeping you up to date with the latest free-agent news, trade buzz, rumors and more.

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Braun’s future in Milwaukee uncertainRyan Braun is reportedly having difficulty dealing with the possibility that the Brewers might trade him this winter.

“Not knowing 100 percent where [I’ll] be playing is hard. It definitely complicates things,” Braun said recently, according to the Associated Press.

The veteran outfielder and 2011 National League MVP Award winner, who has spent his entire career in Milwaukee, has long been linked to rumors that he may be dealt, and the Dodgers reportedly came close to acquiring him in August.

Braun, 33, still has four years and $76 million remaining on his contract, with a $15 million mutual option and $4 million buyout for 2021. The urgency of a potential trade stems from Braun achieving 10-and-5 rights early next year, which would give him a full no-trade clause.

However, general manager David Stearns refuted that he had a deal in the works this winter.

“I know that’s a big story this offseason, but I’m very happy that Ryan is a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. I expect him to be a member of the Milwaukee Brewers going forward,” Stearns said.

In the midst of a rebuild, the Brewers have dealt longtime staples Jonathan Lucroy and Francisco Rodriguez in the last 12 months.

Braves could look into acquiring Vogt The Braves, looking for catching, could be interested in acquiring A’s catcher Stephen Vogt, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Vogt, an All-Star the last two seasons, hit .251 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs for Oakland in 2016. The Braves, though, wouldn’t want to give up too much to land Vogt, according to O’Brien, because there is some concern about the 32-year-old veteran’s defense.

Atlanta is trying to emphasize game-calling and pitch framing, which is why it was interested in signing free-agent catcher Jason Castro, who ended up signing with the Twins. Vogt ranked well below average as a pitch framer in 2016, according to Baseball Prospectus’ Framing Runs metric.

D-backs could gain with potential Greinke deal Because Zack Greinke’s large contract limits the D-backs’ payroll flexibility, it’s possible that new general manager Mike Hazen could look into trying to trade the right-hander, according to ESPN.com.

Greinke is entering the second year of the six-year, $205 million deal he signed with Arizona as a free agent last offseason, and he will make $34 million in 2017. That’s close to one-third of the club’s expected payroll.

But in his first year with the D-backs, Greinke didn’t look like the same dominant pitcher that he was with the Dodgers. His ERA jumped from a Major League-best 1.66 with Los Angeles in 2015 to 4.37 with the D-backs in an injury-hampered ’16.

Still, Greinke would have value to other teams, per Olney, if the D-backs decided they wanted to try to move the 33-year-old.

Beltran market narrowing The market for free agent Carlos Beltran appears to be down to four teams.

The New York Post reports the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros “are the most competitive teams” for Beltran, who turns 40 next April. The Rangers, who acquired Beltran from the Yankees in August, also are …

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