The MLB offseason has arrived, which means dozens of free agents will be looking for new homes around the league. One such player is shortstop Jed Lowrie, formerly with the Oakland Athletics but unlikely to re-sign with the team. In light of that, the Toronto Blue Jays should take a long, hard look at Lowrie and hope to bring him aboard next year.
While Lowrie has played mostly shortstop over the past couple seasons, he has expressed that he is open to moving to second base, where he played early in his career, to accommodate a roster. The Jays, who already have a $22 million man at shortstop in Jose Reyes, should be looking to replace second baseman Munenori Kawasaki, who was largely underwhelming last year. Unlike Kawasaki, Lowrie fits in with the Jays’ mantra of taking pitches and earning free passes, having walked at least 50 times and struck out less than 100 times in each of the past two seasons.
Where Lowrie really helps Toronto is in his ability to handle left-handed pitching. The Jays beat up right-handed pitching last season, knocking in the second-most runs in the league against righties, but ranked just 19th against southpaws. Lowrie, who has posted a .776 OPS (109 OPS+) over his career against lefties, would add a threat against lefties in the middle of the Jays’ lineup. A switch-hitter, Lowrie would add increased versatility to an already offensively versatile team that sports three switch-hitters.
Lowrie should come at a reasonable price tag and plug up one of Toronto’s last remaining holes on offense.
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