5:23pm: The ChiSox and A’s have “hit a snag” in trade talks surrounding Lawrie, reports Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area. While a deal could eventually be worked out, the team wasn’t able to agree on the prospect package that would return to Oakland.
WEDNESDAY, 10:18am: It seems that the White Sox aren’t yet ready to strike an agreement, Slusser tweets, but she adds that the sides are still working.
1:26am: The trade appears to be near to completion, and the Athletics seem likely to receive two minor leaguers, although the two teams have not yet agreed on which ones, Slusser writes.
TUESDAY: The White Sox and Athletics are having serious trade discussions focusing on infielder Brett Lawrie, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Slusser recently reported that Lawrie was likely to be traded following Oakland’s acquisition of Jed Lowrie from Houston, and the White Sox have needs at both second base and third base — each positions at which Lawrie has experience.
Lawrie, 26 in January, batted .260/.299/.407 with 16 homers and five steals in a career-high 602 plate appearances/149 games for the A’s last season after coming over from the Blue Jays in the Josh Donaldson blockbuster. He’d most likely give the White Sox a much-needed everyday option at third base, where the upper levels of the minor leagues are thin after former top prospect Matt Davidson endured a dismal campaign for the second consecutive season (.203/.293/.375).
Chicago would be dealing for two years of Lawrie, who projects to make $3.9MM next year (via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) in his second trip through the arbitration process as a Super Two player. From a defensive standpoint, Lawrie graded out excellently at third base early in his career but has seen metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating sour on his skills over the past three seasons. Then again, he’s also dealt with myriad injuries, missing significant time with a pair of oblique injuries, two broken fingers and an ankle sprain, among other, more minor maladies.
If completed, this would mark the second straight season in which A’s president Billy Beane and White Sox GM Rick Hahn have brokered a notable trade at the Winter Meetings, as the Jeff Samardzija trade that sent Marcus Semien and three others to Oakland was completed one year ago at this time.
is Avisail Garcia’s name being mentioned?
Hope not
Fucci. Devil I ask you this, is Avisail Garcia a minor leaguer? The answer is NO !
What can the Sox even conceivably afford to give up that would entice the A’s?
Sox have plenty enough to get Lawrie.
Most of the A’s top 10 prospects are position players so I am assuming maybe pitching prospects is what they want in return. I doubt their top 2, Montas and Fulmer are available. However maybe they would get one or two of Spencer Adams, Chris Beck,, or Jordan Guerrero.
Giving up Spencer Adams for him would be a HORRIBLE move for the Sox.
I am just guessing that the Sox might have to give up one of their top 3 pitching prospects for Lawrie since he still does have 2 years of control left and since the 3rd base market is almost non existent this year. I think it will come with a hefty price. Maybe would be a different story is Lawrie was a free agent at the end of this year. Just my assumption.
If that’s the case, I’d much rather find someone off the scrapheap to fill in for a year and then reassess later. I’d absolutely be fine with sending over Beck or Guerrero, but Spencer Adams has way too much potential to give up for a pretty mediocre player like Lawrie.
Agreed I’m a Cub fan but The White Sox my 2 BD favorite team no way on giving up top minor Olt will be fine watch and see
I can’t imagine a scenario where any prospect of value is traded for Lawrie. Moving him is done to shed salary, not to gain prospects. He isn’t a good player, he’s a bottom of the roster talent.
He doesn’t have Josh Donaldson numbers but he is a good player. A’s are trading him due to locker room problems. And since the White Sox need an upgrade at 3rd both teams have needs that can be taken care of.
Umm….290 obp in a career year. 700 ops player in a career year.
No. He’s a bad player. This is a salary dump.
Who said he had a career year? This was the healthiest year he had yes. But he also went from Rogers Centre to O. Co. He has the intensity and the drive. He is most certainly not bottom of the roster talent.
Sox should not give up Fulmer (obviously), Montas or Adams in a deal for Lawrie. Beck or Guerrero would be acceptable to me.
Fulmer/Montas are out of the question in my opinion, but Adams shouyld be off the table too considering his potential
Agreed. I would be furious if Adams is included in a deal for Lawrie. He has arguably the most long term upside of any arm in our system.
I agree with this. Adams or Beck on their own is maybe enough. I don’t know how you can ask for much more. Montas and Fulmer would be an overpay. Lawrie is not a player with a strong history of health, steady production, or good defense.
Could see a bullpen piece or Avisail Garcia going back also.
Adams? That would be outrageous. Lawrie is a mediocre player. Average at best. You trade bullpen pieces and low ceiling prospects for him.
Glad to see the Whitesox finally putting their foot down. Yes, Williams would trade top prospects for mediocrity, but that’s why the Sox are in the position they are in. Refusal to be patient and develop young players.
Montas has to be involved
Lets see what Single A prospects Bean demands. Smh
That’s unfortunately about as much as Lawrie is worth, which is upsetting for both sides. If a guy can’t stay healthy he isn’t valuable.
We better not have given up Spencer Adams, Chris Beck or Tyler Danish.
There’s no way we gave up Frankie Montas.
Mmmmm …. Danish
he was healthy this year though?
Oakland has no place to put Avisail unless there planning on unloading Reddick
they have a AAA team
Well why would they trade for Avisail and put him triple A Numbnutts
don’t be a d-bag. it’s clearly a joke at the expense of the guy who was statistically pretty much the worst OF in baseball last year.
Yeah, not true ^^^
Angel Pagan was the worst outfielder in baseball last year.
Because that’s what the A’s do
This is such a White Sox move smh…I hope this isnt “The Move” of the offseason for them.
No theyll sign Uribe for the move of the off season
Gotta laugh Beane deals everyone even if there do get back something worth Lawrie they wont be there long
Based on trades this offseason, it’s probably going to end up being:
1st round pick (Chicago tweaks the MLB rules to allow for draft pick trading)
Rodon
5% equity in WGN
Rodon isn’t worth anything
I’m guessing this is a joke or a drunk-dial, right? A 2014 top 5 pick with 6 more years of team control — his value is incredibly high.
Those little dots and lines on your keyboard are called “punctuation.”
Come on guy!!!
If this isn’t sarcasm, you sir, are an idiot.
Please don’t give up something good for him. Lawrie is better than what we have, but he’s still not anything special.
One of the better options for the White Sox with a weak FA class at 3B and few good trade options who are reportedly available. Brett Lawrie also won’t cost nearly as much in talent as Todd Frazier would from the Reds.
David Freese is available for just money.
Deal is done per an article from SF Chronicle: link to t.co. It’s for 2 minor league relievers.
Even if Adams or Beck are one of them….it’s not a total overpay. Would rather have Lawrie than Freese, one of the Japanese guys, Frazier (who would command a King’s ransom, Longoria (who gives you similar numbers to Lawrie), or a Hanley Ramirez swap for LaRoche
I would still like to see a Longoria trade to Sox. HIs stats are nowhere near similar to Lawrie: Longoria 2015: 21 HR .764 OPS 110 OPS+ career .833 OPS. Lawrie: 16 HR .706 OPS and a 92 OPS+ (100 = average player). And let’s not even get into defense . . .
my god dream on chump lmfao
Longoria has a full no trade clause and the Rays are closer to contention than the White Sox. Do White Sox fans actually think Longo is on the table? LOL!!! Better stop talking about that, ASAP, its making yall look silly.
better be a good return, Lawrie is a stud
At this point, not even close.
If it Montas then A’s fans will be happy. Also Beane has a great history in winning trades against the White Sox. Cubs? Notsomuch…
Except that Rich Harden for Josh Donaldson + trade ;)
Lets go check what it’ll take to get Gray off them, probably not much.
I would love that. Just cash In and give them any 4-5 of our minor leaguers(except anderson) for Gray and Lawrie.
Montas, Danish, Adams, Fulmer, engel for those 2?
Toss in Avi and get back reddick too. lol
would never happen. Rodon, Fulmer, Anderson, Montas,and danish would all be in that deal. no way Sox get Gray without gutting every single prospect they have
He is under control till 2020, is only
26 and coming off am amazing season. It’s going to be a huge return if that ever happened
If this is true, which reports are saying its for 2 minor league relievers. I’m psyched for it for a few reasons. 1 no matter what he is an upgrade over anyone playing 2nd or 3rd for the sox. 2 Avi isn’t in the trade, I’m just not ready to give up on Avi yet. He has only had one full season in the bigs and is still young. After next season then come to me. 3 it still sleeve micha(I think should start), montas, and Adams to be traded for the Todd father or Evan mongoria(please!!). This is a solid hope to rebound move for the sox!
Honestly I hope the Sox get Lawrie and put him at 2B while going and getting Matsuda if they feel he can be a major league 3B for the next few years.
Lawrie’s defensive metrics are better at 2B, his bat would be valuable as a 2B while allowing the Sox to add another cheaper option at 3B with the hope of getting another big OF bat.
Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson was now traded for 4 minor league prospects.
Hopefully we’ll stick him at 2nd, sign Freese to play 3rd and move Sanchez over to SS to split time with Saladino.
At least he is an upgrade. Hitter friendly park maybe some of those power numbers trend upwards.
Beane destroyed Chicago on the Swisher & Samardzija trades, I wonder if he’ll make it 3-3 by getting back Montas – or better- for Lawrie. Personally I was hoping he’d target Trayce Thompson so he can join his brother in Oakland, albeit in different stadiums.
White Sox lose this trade if Spencer Adams or Montas are included. I expect to see something like Tyler Danish and Trey Michalczewski/ Adam Engel. That should be more than enough for this trade if the price is in fact high
Beane’s history of destroying the WS in trades probably means the former package is going, although your latter idea is probably what should happen.
agreed. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Adams traded knowing their FO. That would be an utterly awful move as Adams looks to be their next big SP prospect. Fact they have Adams, Rodon, Fulmer, and Montas as potential #2-3 starters is quite nasty you would think they’d keep that depth and potential.
I’m just disappointed that we won’t hear the double play tandem of Lowrie to Lawrie this year.
The issue I have with Lawrie is defensively he is not an upgrade, at least if you look at his stats from ’15, compared to the Sox fielding combined for third in 15. The Sox better not give up much for him, because who cares if he drives in 2 runs in a game if his sloppy glove work allows 3-4 runs in that game?
@nrd he really isn’t sloppy defensively. He was utilized more of as a utility player as he played a little over 40 games at 2B which isn’t exactly a fit for Lawrie. He’s an upgrade in general for the white sox offensively and defensively if you exclude Saladino who should be their SS barring another signing at ss
18 errors in 109 games at 3rd for Lawrie last season. Sox need to give up less unearned runs in a season, not more. If they get him it I would not give up much for him.
White Sox backing out maybe? Maybe there was a problem with the medicals. Could Valencia be a viable replacement chip?
Braves may do a deal for Brett Lawrie. A’s send Lawrie to Atlanta and get Daniel Castro SS, 2B. 1B, OF, RH hitter and Nick Swisher, OF, 1B, DH, Swith Hitter and Chad Sobotka, Right Handed Starting Pitcher in top 30 prospects.
16 HRs in Oakland equals 20 in Chicago.
260 will work at 3 Base
Under control, cheap and 26, all good
19 error in 109 games at third last season, I would pass as unearned runs have killed the Sox more than anything else in the past few seasons. If the Sox get him, it better not be for really good prospects.
Going to have to disagree with the first part. Unearned runs have been a huge issue, but having only 2 players that can hit a baseball has been BY FAR their biggest issue.
Could the A’s want Thad Lowry and it is just confusing everyone involved?
beat me to it!
Was Chicago offering to good of a prospect package and Oakland wasn’t used to that?