Jed Lowrie - how much will he play

[cleo]

I have a trade offer on the table where I can obtain Lowrie who I really like, but I have no idea if he will play much when he comes off the dl in a few weeks. What position would this guy even play? I know that he is not going to put Altuve or Correa to the bench. Has he played anything else other than SS? Would they have him play some OF or 3B?

Please help out with any info.

[Hornsby]

From CBS a week ago...

Astros SS Jed Lowrie making progress from thumb injury

Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie has begun taking batting practice and fielding ground balls, reports MLB.com.

Lowrie has been out for the last 10 weeks after he tore a ligament in his right thumb which required surgery. His next step is to take a full round of batting practice.
"When he's ready to go out and play, we'll have a game plan for him as he gets into games," manager A.J. Hinch said. "I talk to him every day in some capacity. We've really haven't gotten too specific. He's taken ground balls at short and third. He's watching and he understands. He's played just about everywhere in his career, but having a definitive plan -- until we put a calendar in front of him where he's going to go, [Double-A] Corpus [Christi] or [Triple-A] Fresno, it's nothing that we're discussing."

[joncarlos]

He's a pretty natural fit as a platoon partner for Valbuena. So beyond short-side platoon ABs at 3B, I'm not sure where else he gets ABs.

[Msaint]

Guys on Sirius were talking about him playing 1B, making Carter an occasional starter vs. LHP or power bat off bench. Or they trade Valbuena and his crap BA/OBP and Lowrie plays 3B, but the power/defensive skills they'd lose at 3B might make this tough. Lowrie hasn't played a ton of 3B.

[chancellor]

1B/DH is such a black hole that I'd not be able to understand why they wouldn't give him ABs there.

[Hornsby]

I doubt that the Astro's are that concerned about losing a little power at one of the corner positions if it means picking up 50-75 points in OBP. At this point, if he's hitting well when he comes back, he can play the super-sub role if he can handle it. A start at 3rd a few times a week, spelling both Correa and Altuve once a week, and maybe at 1st as well. Hell, he can pick up an outfielders glove and do his best ben Zobrist impersonation.

I'd guess that he plays 4-5 games a week if he's hitting...

[Msaint]

Sounds like he's ready to eat into Valbuena (ew):

ROTOWORLD: Jed Lowrie (thumb) is set to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Corpus Christi. Lowrie has been taking rounds of batting practice without issue since late last week. The 31-year-old underwent surgery in April to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and Carlos Correa has since taken over at shortstop for Houston. But the switch-hitting Lowrie could work his way into playing time at the hot corner -- stealing some starts from lefty Luis Valbuena -- and he'll be a nice bench piece for the stretch run.