A’s, White Sox complete Brett Lawrie deal

NASHVILLE - With the A’s trade on the final night of the winter meetings, the team’s 2016 infield comes into focus and the most high-profile return piece in the Josh Donaldson deal is gone.

Oakland sent infielder Brett Lawrie, acquired from Toronto a year ago, to the White Sox on Wednesday, a deal first reported by The Chronicle, and in return, the A’s received two minor-leaguers, right-handed reliever J.B. Wendelken and left-hander Zack Erwin.

Forst said that the team doesn’t view the Lawrie trade to Chicago as any sort of statement about the Donaldson deal, though, especially with starters Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin on the A’s pitching staff and highly regarded minor-league shortstotp Franklin Barreto.

Lawrie, 25, hit 16 homers and drove in 60 runs for Oakland, but he drew unfair comparisons with eventual league MVP Donaldson after the deal and was seen as something of a disappointment.

There was significant interest in Lawrie, according to Forst, and the A’s felt Lowrie felt the team well because he can play shortstop and he’s a switch hitter.

Forst said that as things stand now, with Lawrie’s departure, Danny Valencia will play third, Marcus Semien shortstop and Lowrie second base, with Eric Sogard in the utility spot.

[...] it would be tough to carry a Rule-5 player on the 25-man roster the entire season when they already have two roster spots that are somewhat problematic: outfielder Coco Crisp, due a team-high $11 million in 2016, has not been available consistently for more than a year because of a chronic neck issue, and DH Billy Butler, who is owed $20 million of the next two years, underperformed in 2015, with a .251 average 20 points below his previous career low.

Butler’s work habits became something of a concern last season, his first with Oakland, as he was seldom if ever seen in the weight room, but A’s officials said that is being addressed this winter and Butler has been working out with team strength and conditioning coach Mike Henriques.