It was more than a mild surprise when the July 31 trade deadline came and went with Jed Lowrie in the same uniform. Now it appears the veteran infielder could be remaining with the Oakland Athletics even longer.
The A’s were expected to deal Lowrie to make room in the infield for Franklin Barreto. That never materialized, and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports it is “increasingly apparent” the club will exercise Lowrie’s $6 million option for next season.
Slusser says Oakland has not given up on Barreto but feels the 21-year-old “wouldn’t be hurt” by more time at Triple-A Nashville and would like to see him “force his way” onto the major-league roster.