TUESDAY: The Mets “don’t have any real interest” in Lawrie, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (via Twitter). As he notes, New York does have quite a few depth options in the infield, and it seems the team is pleased with the quality on hand to provide protection for the questionable status of David Wright.
As for the Rays, the club wouldn’t be looking to utilize Lawrie at his accustomed positions of third and second, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Rather than competing for time in those areas, he’d be expected to appear at first base, DH, and perhaps even in the outfield.
Meanwhile, it’s worth wondering whether Toronto’s interest could be impacted by the slow progress being made by Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis. As Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca tweets, skipper John Gibbons says the club expected Travis to have advanced further by this point but will continue “to be cautious.”
SUNDAY, 4:10pm: The Royals, Mets and Blue Jays also have interest in Lawrie, according to ESPN’s Jim Bowden. A native of Canada, Lawrie played in Toronto from 2011-14.
12:33pm: The White Sox released Brett Lawrie on Friday, but the infielder might not be without a team for long. The Rays will at least consider signing Lawrie, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Now 27, the version of Lawrie who served as one of baseball’s top prospects before torching opposing pitchers as a rookie with the Blue Jays in 2011 (.293/.373/580 in 171 plate appearances) is long gone. A career .261/.315/.419 hitter in 2,417 lifetime PAs, Lawrie slashed a pedestrian .248/.310/.413 in 384 plate trips last season and failed to provide defensive value at second base (minus-4 Defensive Runs Saved, minus-5.5 Ultimate Zone Rating).
Lawrie has spent his career at both the keystone and third base, where the Rays have far better starting options in Brad Miller and Evan Longoria, but they find his right-handed bat intriguing, according to Topkin. Moreover, because of injuries, infielders Matt Duffy (shortstop) and Logan Morrison (first base) aren’t locks for Opening Day, so Lawrie could provide the club depth if they do end up unavailable. Jason Martinez of MLBTR and Roster Resource projects that Tampa Bay will enter the regular season with two out-of-options players, Nick Franklin and Tim Beckham, and minor league signing Rickie Weeks as its infield-capable bench choices. Like Lawrie, all three bat from the right side (Franklin’s the only switch-hitter of the group).
Who remembers the Josh Donaldson- Brett Lawrie trade
I do! But I also remember the RA Dky, for Syndagaurd and D’arnaud too.
The A’s also got Franklin Barreto and Kendall Graveman. Still a bad trade but those are two solid pieces that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Painful trade but that said Lawrie was the 3rd piece coming back to A’s. Key was Barreto and Graveman. I don’t have delusions of Barreto being an MVP candidate like Donaldson, but if he becomes a solid up the middle regular it will ease the sting a bit.
Actually Lawrie was number 4 to seal the deal. Nolin was the prize, with Graveman close behind and Barreto as the 18 year old lotto ticket with high potential.
remember the Ruth trade
Oh I member
Then I’m sure you will remember the Scott Kasmir trade!
Ruth Ginsburg was traded from the Supreme Court? Oh my…..hehe
Maybe the A’s will give up Sonny Gray to get him back?
That little girl in the video does I bet.
I could see the braves platooning him with Adonis Garcia
Platooning two right handed hitters? Probably wouldn’t make any sense
Depends on their splits… It doesn’t have to be a righty/lefty platoon to be effective… If one hits lefties better and one hits righties better, they can absolutely have a platoon with 2 righties.
That being said, I don’t care enough about these 2 players or the team to check.
Braves want no part of this clown. At some point I could see Rio moving up to Atlanta and platooning with Garcia.
Rays interest makes no sense. Where will he play?
On the bench
Second base?
Miller
Yeah, they currently have a LHB at 1B, 2B, and DH. I assume he’s get starts at 2B in place of Miller or moving Miller to 1B or DH in place of Morrison or Dickerson on days they’re facing LHP
Durham
Three organizations in three years. With his recent performance, injury history and baggage his options dwindle by the year. Might have to take a minor league k in a non-ideal situation at this point.
Brett Lawrie does have the guaranteed $574K 30-day termination pay coming his way from the White Sox. I’d be surprised if he opted for a minor league deal at this point. As a free agent, he’ll either get a MLB deal very shortly or simply wait for a 2B, 3B or utility role to open for him as spring training progresses toward opening day.
Imo, Lawrie’s biggest hurdle to clubs is proving his health. He’s flat-footed and claims orthotics were his problem while rehabbing back from his leg injury last summer. He ought to be able to find a top notch podiatrist with that $574K. lol
Three organizations in three years means very little other than three teams liked the guy. Add Chapman, A. Miller, J Upton, and many others to your list. If he was a bad player, he likely wouldn’t get three chances at the majors.
He has a 10 cent head attached to a mediocre baseball player that still has that former potential tag. Put up allstar numbers and people are more forgiving of jerky behavior
Yeah, the 3 you mention are completely different cases. Lawrie wasn’t moved around because of cost or a team picking him up trying to win a pennant. Chapman, Miller and Upton were, well, Upton was about the money lol.
I can offer an even better example of a player who was traded more frequently, one who was a member of 4 different ball clubs in the span of two season. Yoenis Cespedes played for the A’s, Red Sox, Tigers and Mets in 2014 and 2015.
I would hardly label Brad Miller a “far better starting option” than Brett Lawrie at 2B. Miller’s advantage is health and the 30 HR’s he hit in 2016. Lawrie is the “far better” defender of the two at a position that usually demands that trait. Both are 27 and Lawrie would be considered the better athlete. Lawrie also holds the better career BA and only Miller’s 30 dingers edged him past Lawrie in SLG (.423 to .419). Most advanced metrics also favor Lawrie over Miller on a seasonal or career basis.
If both players repeat their 2016 Miller will be a slightly more productive player though, and he comes with the added benefits of enjoying the platoon advantage more often and not being a clubhouse cancer. The real question seems to be if the Rays feel Lawrie is an upgrade over one of Franklin, Beckham or Weeks.
If Brett Lawrie was considered to be a “clubhouse cancer” with the White Sox last season they would not have tendered him a contract on the December 2nd deadline for arbitration eligible players this past offseason. The White Sox front office was clearly of a mind to begin their rebuild at that point with the two major trades they executed later that week at the winter meetings. Yet they still opted to retain Lawrie, something they surely would not have done if he was considered a clubhouse problem.
That Whitesox team needs a front office overhaul. Everyone forgets Adam LaRoche being treated like garbage the club house moral went out of order
Everything I hear about Lawrie is he was great in the clubhouse and good teammate. Where did this clubhouse cancer talk come from??
What makes you think he was treated like garbage? The only issue was whether his son could suit up and train with the team every day during spring training. He was asked to cut down the number of days the kid was there and rather than comply, he quit.
What kind of a loser takes his kid out of school and brings him to work every day? Again, funny how the daughter had to go to school but the son got to pretend. Too weird. And, you spelled morale wrong.
Yeah, the White Sox clubhouse was so devastated by Adam LaRoche’s premature retirement that they began the 2016 season with the best record in the A.L., second only to the Cubs in MLB, before their lack of talent finally caught up with them in mid-May.
Miller is a much better option, both defensively and with the bat. As others have mentioned, he would be a fine depth/bench option given their need for right handed bats.
Check out Millers splits….I believehe had like 27 of those homers off either righties or lefties…needs a platoon partner
Id like toronto to bring him back on a minor league deal assuming no injuries in spring training Goins is gonna get exposed to waivers and im not big on our available ba kups in the minors.
Still no room for him on the 25 man roster with Barney and Pearce as utility guys. Which is why Goins will be exposed to waivers so signing Lawrie would be pointless.
I would take Lawrie and Goins on the MLB roster, both can be super utility guys and you can waive Barney.
I think I remember reading that Lawrie was a bit of a cancer in the clubhouse in Toronto. I could be wrong though. Does anyone else recall that? or am I imagining things?
Goins has the edge defensively, but Barney is no slouch and can actually hit compared to Goins.
Lawrie’s defensive stats the last couple of seasons have been awful.
Goins and Barney you can flip a coin, all glove and no bat guys are a dime a dozen.
Yeah, but can he pitch like Barney? That’s the bigger question. 😉
Goins shut them down the inning before, Barney gave that game away 😛
I don’t think he was ever considered a cancer in the clubhouse, but was way too intense on the field. He tried to steal home once when Bautista was at the plate, got thrown out, and you could feel the tension coming out of the TV screen. Then there was the other time that he got pissed off at Bautista on the field for not attempting to score on a fielders choice/fly ball (Cant recall which) that he had no business scoring on.. He did too many dumb things on the field, but by all accounts I have read he was a solid presence in the clubhouse.
I think signing Lawrie would be a good move for the Rays because maybe they can help get his swing back right and then he would add to the other good players
The Angels or Mets should be calling his agent
Hmmm.The Mets would only have to pay him the minor amount of dollars on his contract? Yep, Sandy will be there…
That’s incorrect. White Sox waived him and had to pay a quarter of his contract. He’s a free agent and will sign with the highest bidder. Not a huge commitment, but I assume he’ll get at least an Adam Lind type contract.
The Mets are too cheap to be the high bidder on a player with a history of injuries never mind the alleged other baggage. The Red Sox could use him to compete with Josh Rutledge as the eighty infield bench player opposite Brock Holt. Not sure why there is no apparent interest. His cost will still leave trading deadline financial space and still remain under the tax threshold. That said, my guess is he ends up back with the Jays.
The Mets are too cheap to be the high bidder on a player with a history of injuries never mind the alleged other baggage. The Red Sox could use him to compete with Josh Rutledge as the righty infield bench player opposite Brock Holt. Not sure why there is no apparent interest. His cost will still leave trading deadline financial space and still remain under the tax threshold. That said, my guess is he ends up back with the Jays.
Where would he play on the Mets? He’s not starting over Reyes or Walker.
He also posted an OPS almost 70 points lower than Wilmer Flores who is their backup IF.
Not to mention the Mets have a bunch of infield options knocking down the door in AAA.
Lawrie is the alternate version of Starlin Castro, a vastly overrated player, he’s barely average. He’d do best to hang tight and wait for the first infielder to pull up lame in the WBC.
I doubt the angels would be as they have a handful of guys that can play 3B and a few for 2B
With David Wright being injured every year and not wanting to just hang it up the Mets need this guy.
He’s a 25th man for the Mets. As much as it breaks my heart, I don’t see Wright coming back anytime soon yet he still would be a backup super sub. He’s not starting over Reyes or Walker and they have Flores and TJ Rivera filling in for them. He’s basically be a younger version of Kelly Johnson, a pinch hitter and maybe one start a week.
Sox couldn’t get anything for him via trade yet 3-5 teams are interested in him within a week of his release.
I mean something ?
Hard to trade a player who signed a $3.5MM contract in his final year of arbitration eligibility when he couldn’t take the field and prove his health to other clubs this spring following his leg issues from last summer. The primary reason the White Sox offered 2B/3B Lawrie a contract rather than non-tender him last December was his potential value as a summer deadline trade chip and/or protection in the event they were successful in dealing 3B Todd Frazier first.
Lawrie had yet another setback this spring and hadn’t appeared in a single Cactus League contest. A trade for Frazier never materialized this offseason and the White Sox decided they would rather just cut Lawrie for his 30-day termination pay and provide more of an opportunity for younger players like Tyler Saladino and Yolmer Sanchez at 2B, as likely placeholders until #1 prospect Yoan Moncada is ready for prime time later this season.
I like the fit with the Royals.
If he rebounds, they can still probably extend him cheap to replace some of their departing core. If not., dump him.
didn’t he take out Escobar with a hard slide and cause a huge brawl a couple years ago?
Yes he did and I would be surprised if they signed him since they have Cuthbert and Colon who are out of options, Mondesi is hitting well right now, and Merrifield is also an option. I don’t really see him as an improvement to those guys (other than maybe Colon).
The royals aren’t signing this guy. He’s a loser that would get his rear kicked in that clubhouse the first week. Plus, lawrie thinks they are classless when Herrera buzzed his tower.
Don’t forget his dirty (Utley-esk) slide
Good luck with that hammerhead!
Jays were saying they wanted to keep lawrie to play him at second, but A’s wouldn’t do the deal without him. I know he was pretty careless on the bases in Toronto. The Jays also moved (or didn’t resign) a few other players the same year as lawrie that were part of the cancer in the clubhouse.
Mets make short term sense, especially if he could be a RH complement to Duda at 1B along with backing up 2b and SS; but, what happens when (if) Wright comes back, I dont see the Mets carrying 7 IF. So, it really comes down to what the Mets are seeing as a realistic ETA for Wright, if May then no but it they are thinking July then go get him.
Lawrie filling in at short would be an eye-gouging experience
He’d fit decently on the Mets. Insurance for when Wright/Cabrera/Walker/Reyes/Flores get hurt eventually.
You are becoming more realistic this year “eventually”. However cheap Wilpons won’t spend any money and when the pitching staff starts to fall apart you can get your green helmet out and start dreaming of summer camps!
He’d be perfect for the Mets considering Wright will most likely miss most of the season due to injury. Better experience playing 3B than the options they have now.
The guy was cut early in the Spring and then cleared waivers at his current salary so he profiles as a Met target. But I thought the team was “all in” with the Reyes/Flores/Rivera combination. If Wilpon’s found some loose change around, I’d prefer the team break the ice on IFA budget (yes, they get one, and its actually the same as other teams) vs stacking an already loaded position on which already we’re all in…
Why would you say the Mets are cheap? After all the big contracts they just handed out and the team is so stacked with depth at every position. They had been very cheap in the past, but not after this off season.
One off-season of better (but not great) spending does not make up for the “Madoff Years” where ownership ran the club like a small market team.
Payroll is over 150M. Not cheap.
Outside of cespedes, which they were forced to do, the payroll has climbed simply by arbitration year’s contacts.
Do a google search and read about the pst 8 years
Lawrie is not a better option than Reyes, Flores or TJ Rivera at third base.
Agreed. If he were to stick with the Mets it’d be as the 25th guy (as someone else posted above). I liked what I saw from TJ at the end of last year, so I’m not sure how they’ll have room for him. MAYBE if Reyes can play some CF, but everything needs to fall right.
Agreed. I’d rather see Reyes, Flores, TJ…
He comes cheap so it works with the wilpon formula. Who cares about clubhouse chemistry?
I figured Boston would be interested. Sandoval has issues against lefties. Would be a good option over Rutledge who is injured anyway. Their other platoon option is Marco Hernandez who is left handed. Could use a right hand hitting compliment.
Unless both Donaldson & Travis are going to be out for awhile, the Blue Jays interest makes little sense. Barney can handle 2nd base & Goins can be the utility player who can play 2nd & short. If Donaldson is on schedule for opening day, then the Jays would be better off sticking with what they already have in camp
Travis if he starts to early on a program he will re-activate his injury. So that’s why I think it would be good to sign Brett Lawrie to a minor league deal, I think. Also he would provide depth in the organization at 2nd, 3rd and shortstop. Which right now there isn’t much of