Padres interested in Brett Lawrie?

[Invader3K]

Ken Rosenthal mentions it in his latest column.

Look for the Padres to continue trying to infuse athleticism into their organization — they've also spoken multiple times to the Brewers about Double-A second baseman Brett Lawrie.

The Brewers are willing to discuss trading Lawrie for young pitching. Eric Farris, another of their second-base prospects, is batting .379 in the Arizona Fall League and is an outstanding defender with base-stealing ability.

Interesting. You would think if the Padres really are interested in Lawrie, they could be a good fit for a trade with the Crew.

[craigharmann]

Eric Farris, another of their second-base prospects, is batting .379 in the Arizona Fall League and is an outstanding defender with base-stealing ability.

I'd say start here, and if talks fall apart, then offer Lawrie. If they're looking for athleticism, then Farris would fit the bill for them.

[GoudaBrew]

Eric Farris, another of their second-base prospects, is batting .379 in the Arizona Fall League and is an outstanding defender with base-stealing ability.

I'd say start here, and if talks fall apart, then offer Lawrie. If they're looking for athleticism, then Farris would fit the bill for them.

But it sounds like the Padres are after Lawrie and may not have interest in Farris. I think Rosenthall mentions Farris to show that the Brewers have depth at the position and that's why the Crew might be willing to deal Lawrie.

 

I'm always bad at lining up players for a trade, but is Latos asking for too much in a Lawrie trade? Clayton Richard doesn't see like enough, but I don't what kind of arms the Padres have in their system either.

[Invader3K]

I think FIB is correct in that Rosenthal wasn't stating specifically that the Pads would have any interest in Farris.

 

I think most would agree that you want to see if Weeks will re-sign before dealing Lawrie, though.

[TooLiveBrew]

If I'm the Padres, the last guy I'm looking to move this offseason is Latos. My guess is the Pads would try to package several prospects together to try to net Lawrie. Straight-up, Latos would be way too much for Brett.

[Invader3K]

The Brewers Bar talks about some possibilities here, re: Padres trading for Lawrie. He agrees Latos should be ruled out.

[GoudaBrew]

The Brewers Bar talks about some possibilities here, re: Padres trading for Lawrie. He agrees Latos should be ruled out.

Yeah, I was pretty sure Latos would be asking for too much. Simon Castro sounds like a good fit. Top prospect for top prospect. The Pads need bats and we need pitching. And yes, getting a Weeks signing done first would be ideal.

[greeg35]

I wonder if they would be interested in Gamel

[JohnBriggs12]

If you're going to shop Lawrie, you should have more than one suitor in the bidding. Otherwise, you aren't maximizing his value.

[Warning Track Power]

If Weeks were resigned would a Lawrie/Gamel/etc.. for Latos be something we could pull off or be interested in? Seems like a lot but a true young ace like Latos would require a lot.

I'd prefer a Lawrie/Jeffress/etc...for Greinke but that's just me.

[PrinceFielderx1]

If you're going to shop Lawrie, you should have more than one suitor in the bidding. Otherwise, you aren't maximizing his value.

There is going to be a lot of interest in Lawrie this off-season IMO. A lot. Toronto was also rumored to want him.

[RockCoCougars]

I think that if you do it, you have to trade Lawrie for that proven 1/2a guy like Greinke. Though Latos is very impressive, I don't see them moving him. Otherwise I don't see a match. I think that the Padres waited too long, 2 years ago I would have done Lawrie as part of something for Peavy (bullet dodged). Maybe he was part of the deal that was rumored to be almost done before Peavy got injured. Speaking of Toronto, I would bet that Lawrie was part of the rumored deal that Halliday shot down. As for what they have now, I love Morrow as a #3-ish starter, but I don't think that he's enough return for Lawrie. I don't see anybody else on Toronto that would interest me.

[colbyjack]

You only move Lawrie as the key piece of a package deal if you can get someone proven like Greinke in return. I also agree that Latos isn't going anywhere. I'm not interested in a prospect-for-prospect swap, as you need a proven commodity in return. Castro has very good upside, but I'm not sold on his delivery, as he has an upside-down takeaway and appears to throw across his body in the videos found in the links provided above.

[nate82]

You only move Lawrie as the key piece of a package deal if you can get someone proven like Greinke in return. I also agree that Latos isn't going anywhere. I'm not interested in a prospect-for-prospect swap, as you need a proven commodity in return. Castro has very good upside, but I'm not sold on his delivery, as he has an upside-down takeaway and appears to throw across his body in the videos found in the links provided above.

I agree with this. The one exception to this would be if you were getting a return like the Rays got for Young. If you are receiving a prospect who can step into your rotation right away then you do that deal. I don't believe the Padres have the players who are like that.

[dadofandrew]

29 teams want Lawrie, but few have the pitching to get him. I'd hate to move him, but if they do, he could bring a guy like Yo, though possibly less proven.

[Invader3K]

29 teams want Lawrie, but few have the pitching to get him. I'd hate to move him, but if they do, he could bring a guy like Yo, though possibly less proven.

If he can bring a "Yo-like" pitcher, then I think you have to do it.

[GAME05]

i agree with Colbyjack. if the #1 priority is to bring in top-flight pitching, then you have to hold on Lawrie just in case you need him as a trading chip to bring that guy in.

[paul253]

If he can bring a "Yo-like" pitcher, then I think you have to do it.

 

Do you mean Yo now or Yo when Yo was in the minors? No way would Lawrie bring someone who has already had the success and the upside of Yovani Gallardo.

[Invader3K]

If he can bring a "Yo-like" pitcher, then I think you have to do it.

 

Do you mean Yo now or Yo when Yo was in the minors? No way would Lawrie bring someone who has already had the success and the upside of Yovani Gallardo.

I mean with Yo-like upside (when he was in the minors). I understand he won't bring a Bumgarner type name.

[craigharmann]

That was my point in bringing up Farris as opposed to Lawrie. If the Padres want to get more athletic, why not see what Farris would get in return. I'd rather hang on to Lawrie, but if he brings back a top flight young pitcher, that would be a good thing!

[dadofandrew]

Farris is 25 and has never hit above A+ ball. He and Lawrie are barely comparable. Eric is apparently a solid defender who runs fast, and may be a decent stopgap 2B. Lawrie is Braun if he never went to college and was from Canada.

[MNBrew]

I think the point is that while Farris isn't as strong a prospect as Lawrie (though he's solid), and thus would make more sense to move, the whole reason to consider trading Lawrie is that he'd likely bring a much greater return.

 

I like what Lawrie could become, but if Weeks is gonna be here long-term (and possibly even if he isn't), it wouldn't hurt to see Lawrie turned into some serious pitching.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Trading Lawrie, and possibly other prospects as well, is something Melvin may need to do to get the pitching we need. Mainly because we won't get a big return for Fielder or anyone else at this point.

[ListachRides]

Many people see Castro as a Yo-type pitcher. I've seen him described as potential #1 or 2 by multiple scouting reports. And he's not real far away as he'll start the year in AAA. Probably needs a full season there from what I've read, but he'd still be a great young pitcher to have for the 2012 rotation. Obviously the Brewers don't make the trade if they don't feel that way about him.

 

It would be preferable to use Lawrie as part of a larger package to get Greinke, and I would be upset if the Brewers didn't explore all potential avenues for maximizing the return before trading Lawrie. But if we are unable to get Greinke it may not be possible to find another proven top-of-the-rotation guy available. Acquiring a potential ace may require a little risk tolerance on a close-to-the majors prospect. Doesn't have to be Castro, but someone in that same upper echelon prospect range. Given Lawrie's positional uncertainty, I'd be ok with it.

[Hammer]

I just hope that we aren't getting in to a situation where Melvin knows that he only has 2 years left and decides to "go all in" with our farm system. While that is not his trade style, he is at the end of his rope right about now.