August 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Brett Lawrie (15) catches a ground ball during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at O.co Coliseum. The Rays defeated the Athletics 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
For the second straight offseason, third baseman Brett Lawrie has a new team.
Lawrie was acquired by the Chicago White Sox from the Oakland Athletics Wednesday night in exchange for two minor league pitching prospects.
Lawrie was traded from Toronto to Oakland in November 2014 in a deal for American League MVP Josh Donaldson. While Donaldson hit 41 home runs for the Blue Jays, Lawrie batted .260 and posted career highs with 16 home runs, 60 RBIs and 29 doubles for in 149 games for Oakland.
Third base was among Chicago’s primary needs following a third straight losing season. The quartet of Conor Gillaspie, Tyler Saladino, Gordon Beckham and Mike Olt batted a combined .235 (164-for-699) with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs and neither player had an on-base percentage over .300
In return for Lawrie, the A’s will receive left-hander Zachary Erwin and right-hander J.B. Wendelken.
Erwin was 2-2 in 15 appearances while splitting his first professional season between Rookie League Great Falls and Class A Kannapolis. Wendelken split last season with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte and was 6-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 39 appearances.
