Pirates Trade Adam LaRoche To Red Sox For Argenis Diaz, Hunter Strickland

by Eric Simon on Jul 22, 2009 4:05 PM EDT

The Red Sox have acquired first-baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pirates in exchange for Double-A shortstop Argenis Diaz and Single-A right-hander Hunter Strickland. It doesn't appear as if the Pirates have included any money in the deal, so this looks like a straight salary dump for the Buccos. The Sox give up a couple of fringe prospects for a left-handed bat off the bench who can spell Kevin Youkilis at first. LaRoche has some pop and a good eye at the plate.

Poll

Did the Red Sox do well in acquiring Adam LaRoche?

Yes. They didn't give up much and got a good bat.

638 votes

Nope. They took on too much cash and got hosed by the Pirates.

254 votes

892 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'd have gone for a middle option, personally.

It’s a pretty meh move. Didn’t give up much, but are probably overpaying for a bench guy.

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 22, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Though if he ends up a Type B free agent, there’s at least an upside.

by RSNexile on Jul 22, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

He'd have to improve a bit, according to MLBTR.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 22, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Not likely to happen as a bench player

by RSNexile on Jul 25, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

True.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 25, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Its a very smart move

They:

-gave up nothing of real value
-gave Tito a weapon against RHP/upgrades our offense
-got Lowell insurance
-bought low on an infamous second half performer
-strengthened the bench with a legit power threat versus RHP on the days Lowell plays (and vice versa with Lowell on the bench when LaRoche plays)
-improved our late inning infield defense dramatically (Lowell is a corpse in the field this year)
-gave Tito the ability to pinch run for Lowell in the 6th, 7th and later without worrying about losing a bat

The major goal was to get Lowell insurance. They did that – and this guy is about as good as most of the other options that were being considered (if not the name value acquisition that casual fans wanted). VMart would have been nice, but Id MUCH rather give up what we did to get LaRoche and still keep Buchholz than give up Buchholz to get VMart. They also managed to give Tito an option to improve our offense at 3B by platooning these two (with Youk shifting, obviously). Lowell has not hit RHP this year. His AVG is good against them, but he’s been a slap hitter and the rest of his line vs RHP looks like a good shortstop’s.

by alskor on Jul 22, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

pirates r stupid

They have along history of making dum trades.They couldve got way better prospects than that!

by vottoholic on Jul 22, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they were very happy to just lose that contract

They can use that money better and its unlikely they would re-sign LaRoche and even more unlikely he would bring back any draft picks as compensation.

by alskor on Jul 22, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

You also just traded for Chris Duncan for Julio Lugo

Stat Whore

by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 22, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

Lugo to Cards for Chris Duncan is the follow up move

Breaking now

by alskor on Jul 22, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

getting a little two left handed

by vottoholic on Jul 22, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan is going to the minors

by alskor on Jul 22, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Still got Youk, DP, Lowell, Bay.

Tek’s switch, too.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 22, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

As is Lowrie.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 22, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan is warm body, more than I expected for Lugo

Sox need a hitter (s)
Sox need another lefty in the pen, not named Lopez
Sox need a utility guy prefer one with speed

by gizmosandy on Jul 22, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

yeah

something is better than nothing…especially for him

by upCHUCK on Jul 22, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

personally

i was rooting for the lugo-eric byrnes deal. that guy has put up some great years. but as for the only argument against the laroche deal, which appears to be the money, thats ridiculous. the sox have so much money to spend, money is coming off the books at the end of the year (smoltz, penny, saito, baldelli, who knows who else) that the remaining what 3 million? is trivial.

by revived0103 on Jul 22, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan is a better fit than Byrnes

He’s much cheaper, has years of team control left and he has options remaining.

Byrnes was expensive, signed beyond this year and has the same skill set as the guys we already have.

by alskor on Jul 22, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope

we release Kotsay

Sox need a hitter (s)
Sox need another lefty in the pen, not named Lopez
Sox need a utility guy prefer one with speed

by gizmosandy on Jul 22, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

i love kotsay

but yes that brings up a neglected issue: who gets the boot to make room? kotsay seems like the odd man out, so maybe he gets traded for prospects. i like kotsay, he can hit and field and gives us great depth. but the question is do we need him? i think the other possibility is to trade penny or saito.

by revived0103 on Jul 22, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I would think a DL stint would be a possibility for Kotsay

Perhaps, as someone suggested, we find out today that Lowell is in worse shape than we though and that HE needs to go on the DL. He is out of the lineup tonight.

by alskor on Jul 22, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Mrs. Kotsay.

And I love Mark’s glove, not so much on the bat. Laroche gives us a legitimate power threat off the bench, and a better offensive option to spell Lowell – which is obviously badly needed.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jul 22, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 22, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

How'd this get posted here?

He’s not an author on OTM, it wasn’t a FanPost…
I don’t mean anything by my asking, just wondering how that worked. Always interested in finding out how SBN works.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 23, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions