The Oakland A’s are doing their best to find pieces that can contribute to the 2022 roster as they build for the future. This has involved, as is often the case with the A’s in free agency, scouring the bottom of the barrel to find those players. This has led to old friends Stephen Vogt and Jed Lowrie returning to Oakland.
As it turns out, Vogt and Lowrie have more in common than their time as teammates in Oakland. Both players received the exact same contract, as they will earn $850,000 as a base salary. They will also earn another $100,000 if they stay on the 26 man roster for 60 days, and another $150,000 one time bonus if either player is traded.
Oakland A’s give Jed Lowrie, Stephen Vogt same deal
Both of those clauses make a great deal of sense. Lowrie has not been a paragon of health over his career, although the A’s somehow have been able to keep him on the diamond. Vogt has also battled health issues over the past few years, with hip inflammation keeping him from being a part of the Braves’ run to the World Series last year.
Likewise, if either, or both, player is healthy, it is possible they could be traded. The A’s are clearly undergoing a rebuilding process, having dealt away several star players. A strong first half from either Lowire and/or Vogt could lead to their departures as well.
If nothing else, the A’s have a respected pair of veterans in the locker room. The A’s are going to be a young team and having those veterans who have been through the battles will help. Both players will also add a potentially competent bat to the lineup at a salary even Oakland’s ownership can afford.
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The Oakland A’s have brought Jed Lowrie and Stephen Vogt back for essentially the same reasons. It is fitting they have the exact same contract.