Boston Red Sox Trade For Adam LaRoche!
By Matt DeLucia
How do you fix a stagnant offense? While also trying to boost your team’s defense at the same time? Well if you’re the Boston Red Sox, you make a move and grab a veteran player who can fill several different roles on the team. Which they just did, when the Boston Red Sox trade for Adam LaRoche, in exchange for two minor league players. The deal which sent first baseman LaRoche to the Red Sox, also sends SS Argenis Diaz and right handed pitcher Hunter Strickland to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
LaRoche, who’s eligible for free agency after this season, will most likely be used off the bench. Which isn’t that bad of a deal for someone like Adam, since he’s out of the hell hole, called Pittsburgh. He now has a real chance to see and play in the post-season, with the Red Sox this year. Which was exactly the same thing that happened for Jason Bay last year, after the Pirates traded Bay to the Red Sox. It worked out pretty well for Bay, so let’s hope it’s just a tad better for LaRoche and the rest of the Sox this year.
But more importantly it gives manager Terry Francona, another left handed bat to use late in a ballgame. And let’s not forget they can come in very handy in late October, when you’re away playing in a National League stadium, during the World Series!
Also another worthy note that needs to be brought up is that should an injury pop back up with third baseman Mike Lowell, or he just needs a day off. There’s no need to panic now, as Kevin Youkilis can make the switch to third, and either the newly acquired LaRoche or Mark Kotsay can fill in at first for Boston. Which give the Sox flexability since it means if LaRoche plays first, Kotsay can start in the outfield, or to fill in later in a game.
I personally love this move, since the Sox didn’t really give up a superstar or a top prospect, to get LaRoche. As both Diaz and Strickland have been in the minors, still developing since they were drafted by the Sox. So even if at the end of the season, Laroche decides to leave and find work some other place. Theo Epstein and the Sox don’t need to fill bad, since they didn’t give up a lot in trading for him.