Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 17, 2007
Pirating LaRoche

The Pirates finally landed the player they covented, Adam LaRoche.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' two-month wait to try to swing a deal for Atlanta power hitter Adam LaRoche ended Wednesday when they agreed to acquire the first baseman for left-handed closer Mike Gonzalez and another player.

The trade is subject to physicals for the players required by the two teams, according to a baseball official familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because the deal was still being finalized. The identify of the other player was not immediately known.

I assume that means it's not Chris Duffy. I'm not a huge LaRoche fan. He had a great year at age 26 after not reaching the majors until age 24, and then being platooned with someone older than me. I don't think he's going to have a long and productive career. However, the Pirates are getting him at his peak, so if he can at least repeat his 2006 performance, he'll improve the team. But he's by no means a savior.

Mike Gonzalez, on the other hand, does two things really well that you like to see in a closer. He strikes out lots of batters and doesn't allow many long balls. He walks a lot of batters, about one every other inning. But he's so tough to hit he can live with that. It looks to me like a very good move for the Braves. They trade someone who should be fairly easy to replace, using his career season to hype his value for a pitcher who possesses two important skills. And John Schuerholz even picks up another player in the bargain! A classic Braves deal.


Posted by David Pinto at 06:45 PM | Trades | TrackBack (0)
Comments

I'm surprised the Pirates gave away Gonzalez for so little. I really think he's developing into a top notch closer.

Posted by: Devon Young at January 17, 2007 07:37 PM

So little? LaRoche was 7th in the NL in slugging percentage and hit 34 HR.

Posted by: sabernar at January 17, 2007 07:48 PM

LaRoche was great for about two months, and pretty mediocre aside from that.

Posted by: calig23 at January 17, 2007 07:55 PM

I have read that Brent Lillibridge is also going to the Braves with Jamie Romak also going to the Pirates

Posted by: Kyle at January 17, 2007 08:17 PM

Lillibridge is an intriguing name - both Baseball Prospectus and John Sickels like him - good glove at SS, good basestealing numbers, some power (though at 5-11, 185, he's not going to add much more). His only drawback is that he's going into AA at age 23, slightly older than ideal, though obviously not enough that he's not a good prospect.

Posted by: Will at January 17, 2007 10:57 PM

so when do the pirates trade laRoche to the yankees?

Posted by: jeff w at January 18, 2007 12:03 AM

"so when do the pirates trade laRoche to the yankees?"

after about a month of doug m. hitting .185 (though i do think he is a very good fit for the yanks)

Is it just me or would you rather have gonazalez closing rather than bob "skinny" wickman? i think the braves intend to use him as a setup man (w/ rafael soriano) unless wickman falters.

Posted by: tony at January 18, 2007 01:10 AM

LaRoche had a good second half, which supposedly coincided with him starting medication for ADD.

Posted by: Brian at January 18, 2007 08:37 AM

coveted.

Posted by: josh at January 18, 2007 03:09 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?