Brian Lawrence

[DBAHO]

We've dicussed the merits of signing Mark Mulder, and that was a flop, so for discussions sake Ii'm going to throw another name out there. Brian Lawrence.

 

Now this is only in a situation where another SP like Buehrle is dealt for say Pelfrey and Milledge, which would then in my mind probably facilitate the need to sign a stogap SP for a season.

 

Lawrence missed the 2006 season with shoulder surgery, but unlike Mulder had the surgery done earlier.

 

From 2001 to 2004 for the Padres he was an excellent innings eater, and he's a good sinkerball pitcher which would fit in well at the Cell.

 

Problem is he wants to pitch in the NL West. The D-Backs or Rockies would be smart to sign him in my mind, but the Sox should also just take a look at him at least.

 

No one has seen free agent Brian Lawrence throw more this offseason than the Rockies. This week, they could learn whether their pitch to land the veteran right-hander is successful.

 

Page Odle, Lawrence's agent, expects to speak with the Rockies today or Wednesday. The Rockies have two factors working in their favor: Lawrence would like to return to the National League West, where he was once a rotation anchor for the San Diego Padres, and the pitcher lived in Colorado as a child and still has family in the area.

 

"I expect this to be a defining week," Odle said Monday. "Brian will throw again (in the next few days) and I assume Colorado will be there. We have had very good conversations with them."

 

Lawrence, who was traded to the Washington Nationals prior to the 2006 season, didn't pitch last year because of shoulder surgery. He twice started opening day for the Padres, who along with the Giants and Diamondbacks have interest in the 30- year-old, and averaged 205 innings from 2002-05.