Brett Lawrie 2015

Oakland Athletics' Brett Lawrie (15) makes a play during spring training baseball practice Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

A fresh start might just do Oakland A's third baseman Brett Lawrie good. He was shipped from Toronto to Oakland over the winter, where he is expected to man third base and get a chance to revive his still-young career. The odds of a resurgence have many in

leagues predicting a career year.

Injuries continue to be a concern with Lawrie after his 2014 season was limited to just 70 games. Can he stay on the field and finally make good on his five-category potential in fantasy leagues?

Overview:

Talented, potentially late-blooming infielder getting a fresh start with the A's after an offseason trade.

Background:

Listed at 6-0, 210 pounds. ... still just 25 years old. ... a first-round pick (No. 16 overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 draft. ... was traded from Milwaukee to Toronto in a 2010 deal that sent RHP Shaun Marcum to the Brewers. ... has shown five-category potential throughout the minors before running into injury issues in the majors that have cost him 184 games over the last three seasons. ... showed vast potential making his major league debut in 2011, when he hit .293 with nine home runs and seven stolen bases in 43 games. ... has played both second and third base in his career, but is expected to be Oakland's starting third baseman on Opening Day. ... is part of a rapid Oakland rebuilding plan that also brought 2B Marcus Semien, IF/OF Ben Zobrist, DH Billy Butler and RHP Tyler Clippard to town.

2014 stats:

.247 avg., 12 HRs, 38 RBIs, 27 runs, 0 SB in 70 games.

Numbers and trends:

Lawrie's 162-game averages over four Major League seasons: 20 HRs and 13 SBs. ... despite injury issues, is still working on a three-year streak with double-digit homers, including a career-high 12 last season. ... his .247 average was, in part, a product of bad luck with a .260 BABIP that was 32 points below his career average. ... Lawrie's line drive and ground ball rates have fallen in each of the last two seasons while his flyball rate (39.3%) has risen. ... he moves from a hitter-friendly park in Toronto's Rogers Centre to a pitcher's park in Oakland, though natural grass could be considered a benefit in his bid to stay healthy. ... Lawrie should have 2B and 3B eligibility in most leagues after playing 32 and 63 games, respectively, at the two positions. ... was a force in his last significant minor league action, hitting .347 with 18 homers and 13 stolen bases for High-A Dunedin and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2011.

Strengths:

Lawrie's skill set, when healthy, is most ideal at second base but makes him an intriguing late-round flyer with multi-position eligibility. ... he's still just 25 years old and not far removed from being one of the game's best prospects. ... change in scenery could be a positive with a fresh start and more realistic expectations, not to mention an endorsement from Oakland general manager Billy Beane. ... at his best, Lawrie is a 20/20 threat with solid marks in average, runs, RBI and on-base percentage.

Risk factors:

Health is a significant concern, enough to not trust him with a starting job in most fantasy leagues. ... his numbers are trending in the wrong direction with a career-worst mark in walk rate (5.7%) and a fall to 17.4 percent strikeouts last season. ... his power numbers improved in 70 games last season, but his surging flyball rate, if continued in Oakland, could be a serious detriment to his batting average. ... not a shoe-in for double-digit steals after failing to record a stolen base last season.

Average draft position:

124.5 ESPN; 231.1 Yahoo!

Verdict:

While probably overvalued in ESPN leagues as, on average, a 13th-round pick, Lawrie is well worth a later-round flyer. A gamble as a starting 2B or 3B, Lawrie is a risk/reward gamble best suited to be picked at No. 150 or later.