Written by Liam McGuire at Bloguin
Jed Lowrie can’t escape the Oakland A’s.
The A’s have reacquired the shortstop from the Houston Astros in an one-for-one deal in exchange for minor league pitcher Brendan McCurry. It marks a return to the organization for the 31-year-old, who last played with the club for two seasons in 2013 and 2014.
On the surface, the move makes sense for both teams. The Athletics were in need of a versatile infielder, and Lowrie fits the bill. He can play shortstop, second and third base, and could supplant Marcus Semien, who struggled tremendously defensively in 2015, at the position. The A’s could also opt to start him at second base, move Brett Lawrie back to third and move Danny Valencia to the outfield. They have plenty of options, so they aren’t forced to displace someone given the versatility in their infield.
Offensively, Lowrie had a tough season in 2015. In his second stint with the Astros after signing a three-year deal in late 2014, he only managed nine home runs to go with 30 RBI and a .222 average in 69 games. With Carlos Correa’s star blossoming, he made a majority of his starts at third base. The Astros open a spot on their 40-man roster, and clear a significant chunk of cash, as Lowrie was due to make $7.5 million next year, $6.5 million in 2017 and has a $6 million club option for 2018.
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