Trying to recapture some of their lost luster from 2014, the Oakland A’s reacquired infielder Jed Lowrie from the Houston Astros on Wednesday for minor-league reliever Brendan McCurry.
Lowrie’s return all but ensures that the A’s will move either second baseman Brett Lawrie or third baseman Danny Valencia says Bay Area reporter Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Both right-handed hitting infielders are drawing interest from American League teams, according to big-league sources, but could the Mets potentially have some interest as well? Perhaps as a Plan C if nothing materializes with second baseman Daniel Murphy or the versatile Ben Zobrist?
In many respects, you could say Valencia is a poor man’s Zobrist, having played first base, second base, third base and left field while slashing at .290/.345/.519 with 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 66 RBI in 378 plate appearances. It was a breakout season for the 31-year old Valencia, who split time between the A’s and Toronto Blue Jays. He earned $1.7 million in 2015 and will likely double that as he heads into his second year of arbitration.
Lawrie 26, could also pique the Mets interest although he will certainly cost them at least one young arm. The former top-five MLB prospect was acquired in the much-maligned trade that sent MVP Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Originally a first round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, Lawrie set career highs with 29 doubles 16 home runs and 60 RBI last season, but has not met the lofty expectations many scouts projected for him having batted just .263 with a .736 OPS in 2,033 career plate appearances. Lawrie doesn’t walk much and struck out 144 times last season which may take him out of the equation for a Mets front office who may frown on his poor plate approach and his below average on-base skills.
Additionally, Lawrie’s defense leaves much to be desired as he combined for -6 Defensive Runs Saved last season between second and third, and his UZR was -4.0 and -10. 3 respectively. Pass.
