Chicago White Sox Trade For Brett Lawrie

Going into the offseason, the Chicago White Sox stated their number one organizational need was acquiring a new third baseman. They did exactly that on Wednesday by trading minor league pitchers Zachary Erwin and J.B. Wendelken to Oakland for Brett Lawrie.

The Canadian infielder will not only bring defensive stability to the position, but is expected to add some pop to the White Sox offense. He is a career .263 hitter with a .420 slugging percentage, 59 home runs and 217 RBIs. Lawrie can also play second base, as general manager Rich Hahn noted.

“If Opening Day were today, he would be our third baseman, but Brett also brings a level of versatility where he has some experience playing second base,” Hahn said. “So, it’s conceivable during at some point in his White Sox career he plays over there.”

Lawrie himself, however, feels his versatility goes even further. “Wherever I can help the team, that’s what I’m looking to do, so whether that’s center field, left field, right field, catcher — whatever this team needs me to do — I am going to do the best of my abilities to go out there and compete and pick up the baseball, try and make an out and see what I can do to help the team win the game at the end of the day,” Lawrie said.

“I’m excited to be with a new group and see how things are done with the Chicago White Sox,” he continued. “Playing against them and whatnot, I know that it’s a great staff over there and a lot of talent. I look forward to playing again with Melky [Cabrera], and Dioner Navarro is over there, too. We will have a good camaraderie with the team, I believe, and we will try to make a push to this thing. I’m excited about it.”

Photo: Blue Jays Brett Lawrie. Photo by madmiked, via Wikimedia Commons