Atlanta Braves? I Have Your Black Friday 3B Deal Right Here

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Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia (26) celebrates with second baseman Brett Lawrie (15) after hitting a home run. One of these two probably has to go. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Lawrie Would Be Perfect for Atlanta

Brett Lawrie is one of those players – like a Colby Rasmus, perhaps – who seems to have enormous talent yet has never been able to put it all together yet. The almost 26-year-old Canadian started with Toronto with 2 solid years in 2011-12, then has faltered a bit. He was the principle return to Oakland in the Josh Donaldson deal last year, but didn’t really do a lot – while his strikeouts bloomed to 144 (roughly 50-60% higher than any prior year’s rate). Additionally, Lawrie’s defense also suffered in Oakland. Based on all of that, you’d have to conclude that he really didn’t want to be there, and now Billy Beane is going to have to cut bait and see what he can get for his third baseman.

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Ah, but he plays both second and third base… and that’s part of the reason that a deal with Atlanta would make so much sense. Try this on for size:

Lawrie as regular third baseman, Jace Peterson as regular second baseman
With a lefty opposition starter on the hill, Adonis Garcia plays third and Lawrie moves to second

That would immediately resolve Jace’s biggest offensive problem: a .190 average and .510 OPS when facing lefties. Lawrie? .293/.825. And that was during a year in which he played poorly.

Want more reasons to go get Lawrie? Okay:

He’s still cheap. MLBTR estimates that he’ll get $3.9 million.
He’s got two years of team control remaining.

That last bit is equally crucial: the Braves have at least one third base candidate on the way (Rio Ruiz) with another (Austin Riley) who could be nipping at Ruiz’ heels in 2-3 more years. The timing doesn’t look like it could be any better.

What Will it Take to Get Him?

This is a tough one. Yes, it’s a “sell low” situation for Oakland, but it’s not that low exactly… and others will want in on the action.

They will want cheap, controllable players… possibly near-major-league-ready prospects. They lost Scott Kasmir, Tyler Clippard and Ben Zobrist last season. They will think that 3rd base is covered via Valencia, so that’s good — since the Braves wouldn’t have anyone to offer but Adonis Garcia, and I expect Billy Beane would only have to glance at his fielding metrics once before saying “no”.

So my suggestion is Tyrell Jenkins in exchange for Lawrie. That’s a strong offer… maybe too strong normally, but this would insure that Atlanta wins the bidding by giving up a player that will provide value to Oakland… while the Braves simply reduce the pitching competition by one.

Next: This Bud's For Us

@JoseG_Almonte tweeted a tip on Lawrie to me yesterday. I was already mulling this a bit at that point, but the more I looked, the more I liked the idea.

But a trade for Lawrie makes all the sense in the world for Atlanta – and might actually bring the team up to a “competitive” level for 2016. Oh, and do this and you’d think that the pressure to trade Shelby Miller might be reduced significantly… though inking Bud Norris yesterday might be part of the plan that allows Coppy to trade him after all… we’ll see (my opinion: 80% chance he’s gone).

Let’s make it happen on Black Friday. Doors open at 5 am; sales all over the store. No pushing.

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