Is Lawrie Fair Game?

[Schad]

Angels have other prospects not named Trout. By filler I meant if Lawrie was seen to be worth 100 baseball points, and Howie Kendrick 60, two 20 prospects or one 40 prospect would be used to fill the remainder of the value. I'm talking about a perfect world scenario where we and everybody else knows Lawrie's career numbers and we get dead even value.

That's still a poor way of looking at it. One great player >>> three solid players, because there's inevitably an opportunity cost...an average player is only useful if your other options are sub-average.

And beyond Trout, their prospects aren't that desirable, at least those that can actually be traded at the moment. I'm not sure who their #2 who be; Kaleb Cowart has talent but struck out a tonne in rookie ball, Jean Segura is a fringe top 100 but hardly can't-miss, and the rest are pretty underwhelming.

Would I trade Lawrie for Kendrick and a couple B-level prospects? Hell no. For Kendrick and, say, three or four B-level prospects? Ehhh. We need elite players, simple as that; the only way we trade Lawrie is for someone who's already at that level.

[UN-Owen]

Considering the top players within our organization it makes more sense to build around Lawrie than it does Bautista

Bautista for Trout?

[SharoneWright]

Of course Lawrie is "untouchable". You just don't say that yet.

I think some of you guys forget how baseball works. If the front office annoints a rookie publicly as the golden child, that filters down into the clubhouse. Its a negative for Lawrie who is no longer just learning/plying his trade as one of the guys but now has been put under a microscope as a 21 year old. And don't think vets like Yunel (for example) don't notice when management singles out the kid or gives him "special treatment" compared to someone who's been doing it longer and with great success too. Things like that get noticed and can breed resentment when you've got to live in close quarters for 162 games/6months.

So I'll say it again. Lawrie is going nowhere. You know it, I know it, even Lawrie knows it. But AA is again right in not labelling Lawrie "untouchable". He's still got to put in his dues and still has to carry a lot of bags for the vets on this team before that type of talk should filter through the organization.

(Smaller point - AA would also be negotiating against himself when it comes to Lawrie's first big contract extension. I know its not like he's going to fool Lawrie (a bonifide star) into signing a below market value deal by keeping the hype down, but it is curious (and feels appropriate to me) that its only after Ricky and Jose got their big extensions that the club goes on the record calling them untouchable.)

[UN-Owen]

Of course Lawrie is "untouchable". You just don't say that yet.

I think some of you guys forget how baseball works. If the front office annoints a rookie publicly as the golden child, that filters down into the clubhouse. Its a negative for Lawrie who is no longer just learning/plying his trade as one of the guys but now has been put under a microscope as a 21 year old. And don't think vets like Yunel (for example) don't notice when management singles out the kid or gives him "special treatment" compared to someone who's been doing it longer and with great success too. Things like that get noticed and can breed resentment when you've got to live in close quarters for 162 games/6months.

So I'll say it again. Lawrie is going nowhere. You know it, I know it, even Lawrie knows it. But AA is again right in not labelling Lawrie "untouchable". He's still got to put in his dues and still has to carry a lot of bags for the vets on this team before that type of talk should filter through the organization.

(Smaller point - AA would also be negotiating against himself when it comes to Lawrie's first big contract extension. I know its not like he's going to fool Lawrie (a bonifide star) into signing a below market value deal by keeping the hype down, but it is curious, (and feels appropriate to me), that its only after Ricky and Jose got their big extensions that the club goes on the record calling them untouchable.)

Your whole argument comes down to "special treatment" and that's not what we're talking about

Nobody said anything about letting him bang hookers in the SkyDome hotel before batting practice

There's nothing wrong with saying publicly what it is everyone in the front office is hoping for: Brett Lawrie becomes the first Canadian player to get his name on the Level of Excellence

[SharoneWright]

Your whole argument comes down to "special treatment" and that's not what we're talking about

More about respect for the rest of the team, team culture, and not getting too far ahead of ourselves.

There's nothing wrong with saying publicly what it is everyone in the front office is hoping for: Brett Lawrie becoming the first Canadian player to get his name on the Level of Excellence

They could do that tomorrow if they wanted.

Or put his name on a new Level: The Untouchable Level.

But what they should be hoping/working for is baseball in October.

[Strav]

sorry, Kendrick and "prospects" is an awful return for Lawrie. Kendrick doesn't even normally play a full slate of games. And Lawrie for Trout? No way. Lawrie is more important for this franchise playing 3B than Trout would be at 1B, and Lawrie is absolutely ready for prime time, and the timing couldn't be better for the Jays and their chances of getting into the post season this upcoming year and beyond.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Howie Kendrick? Really?

What? A 3.5 WAR (Over the last 5 years) second baseman whose 27 years old and just recently turned the corner? And prospects? How is that a bad trade?

Most of Kendrick's value comes from his defense. Yes he hit 18/14 and hit a respectable average, but realistically, filling second base is a lot easier than filling third base. Especially a third baseman with the potential to be a perennial 30/30 candidate.

Tack on the fact that I still think Kendrick's 18 homeruns were somewhat fluky given his tendencies to hit more than half his balls on the ground.

[StringerBell]

Lawrie for Kendrick + fillers is a horrible trade. As Schad said, Lawrie posted a 2.7 WAR in 170 ABs. Plus he's under control for the next what, five years? Kendrick on the other hand is eligible for free agency in 2013.

If Rogers isn't willing to spend money on free agents I sure hell don't think they'd make this deal or any other involving Lawrie - unless it nets them a return of a highly ranked prospect ala Trout or a legit big league all-star.

[DonYon]

You don't publically give Lawrie that kind of status until he earns it/performs for a couple of seasons. The kid can't think he's been granted immunity at 21 years old. He isn't going anywhere.

Completely agreed. I'm not sure other teams would even bother asking about him. They wouldn't know what to offer.