If you’re lucky enough to be in a Yahoo league this season, Brett Lawrie is probably available. ESPN owners aren’t as lucky, but still might catch a break as his ownership continues to trend down. The former top prospect isn’t enjoying a great start to the season, but is another play with big upside.
The 26-year-old, who has already been traded three times in his young career, looks like he’s found a home with the White Sox, solidifying their keystone and finding a home in the middle third of the order. While he still strikes out a lot and won’t give you a huge bump in OBP, he’s another guy who can provide a little pop from the 2B position.
When Lawrie first came up, it looked like he’d grow into 20+ power, and though he hasn’t shown that yet he does have a good shot at somewhere between 15-20 on a yearly basis. Hitting sixth in the lineup for the most part, he’ll have ample opportunities to cash in runners, especially when Jose Abreu turns around his early season slump.
While he may not have the superstar hype that surrounded him as he broke into the league, remember that he’s only a few years removed from top 50 prospect lists. His positional flexibility helps here too, as he can move around your lineup if you were to find a deal to your liking.
Chicago is one of the best teams in baseball through the first month, and though Lawrie isn’t the sole reason for it, he’s done enough to lock himself in as an everyday bat in the middle portion of the lineup. That’s enough for some fantasy owners to jump on board and hope that he’ll finally break out.
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