Some were bitter that he rejected a trade to Cleveland, but I think it was just a veiled way of being angry that someone dared to want out of Milwaukee. It was funny when he vetoed it and then Cleveland nearly won the World Series, but it was silly at the time and still is now. Cleveland was on his no-trade list prior to the deal being made. The Brewers were depending on him to waive the clause to go to a place he didn't want to go from the start. The Brewers knew it was a stretch, which was reflected in Counsell's and Stearn's comments when it fell through. So, people basically held it against him that he exercised something pre-negotiated years prior in his contract. You're not supposed to use the things you negotiate for apparently.

Then of course there are the multitude of other reasons a person may not want to go to a certain place, not the least of which was that the Indians had an injured Yan Gomes who was younger than Lucroy and making more.

Exactly. Played great for us. Gritty, hard worker, overachiever, played hard and well for us for cheap, everything most people normally love. I have no reason to be bitter at him afterwards over not giving PR answer. I appreciate honesty. Turns out how could he have known our rebuild would be so short. I also don't recall if they offered an extension prior to that last year here, I'd guess they did but it was super team friendly which in hindsight probably ended up being more than he's made since he fell off a cliff so quickly.