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Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Cleveland Gets: 2B/3B Brett Lawrie

Oakland Gets: RHPs Cody Anderson and Zach McAllister

The Rumor

With Oakland's acquisition of Jed Lowrie, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports the A's are expected to trade either Brett Lawrie or Danny Valencia.

Why It Works for the A's

Oakland gets a pair of controllable pitchers that can provide immediate help—Anderson in the rotation, McAllister in the bullpen.

Anderson, 25, made 15 starts for the Indians last season, going 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 91.1 innings of work. He's not a strikeout artist, but effectively uses a four-pitch mix to keep batters guessing.

McAllister, 27, broke into the majors as a starter but excelled in his first full season of relief last season, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 84 strikeouts in 61 appearances.

Why It Works for the Indians

If it seems like Brett Lawrie has been around for a while, it's because he has—2016 will mark his fifth full season in the big leagues. But he's also entering his age-26 season, typically the start of a player's peak period, and still has some upside at the plate, where he's been league average (career 102 wRC+).

Advanced metrics hated his defense in Oakland last season, but it was only three years ago that Lawrie led all third basemen in defensive runs saved with 20. He's more than capable of holding things down at the hot corner in Cleveland, and comes with two years of team control.

His arrival also adds depth to Cleveland's bench, as Jose Ramirez becomes the team's primary utility infielder, capable of spelling Lawrie at third, Francisco Lindor at shortstop and Jason Kipnis at second base, the latter a position Lawrie can also handle.