Gimenez, Perez react to vetoed Lucroy deal

CLEVELAND — Chris Gimenez did not get much sleep on Saturday night. Even though the Indians’ backup catcher has developed into a leader in the clubhouse and his work behind the plate has earned the trust of the pitching staff, reports that Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy was coming to Cleveland kept him up.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried that I’d have a job today,” Gimenez said after Sunday’s 8-0 win over the A’s.

In the hours leading up to the Tribe’s win over Oakland, an agreement between the Indians and Brewers fell apart after Lucroy invoked his no-trade clause and blocked a trade to Cleveland. The Tribe was prepared to send a four-player prospect package to Milwaukee centered around Minor League catcher Francisco Mejia. With that deal off the table, Gimenez and Roberto Perez will continue on as Cleveland’s big league catching duo.

A source confirmed to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy that Lucroy opted to veto the trade when Cleveland would not agree to compensate him for doing so or tear up his $5.25 million team option. Lucroy was also reportedly not promised that he would be the starting catcher in 2017, considering Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes (currently on the disabled list) is under contract.

Gimenez admitted that he did not know Lucroy’s specific reasoning, but the Tribe’s backup catcher said it was “his loss.”

“We all know, from the stories, everything that’s been said. But who really knows behind the scenes?” …

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