The Oakland Athletics will pick up the $6 million option on second baseman Jed Lowrie, a move that might send highly touted Franklin Barreto back to the minor leagues for more seasoning, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The 33-year-old Lowrie, whose contract includes a $1 million buyout for 2018, enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career with a .277/.360/.448 slash line and 14 homers. Lowrie was considered a prime trade candidate leading up to the July 31 deadline, and he could very well emerge as trade fodder as well next summer.