Red Sox get Adam LaRoche

[Chris]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

[rrc589]

I really like this move. Career .270 hitter, hit 20 homers or more and averaged over 80 RBI since 2005.

GREAT pickup.

[Rondo2287]

and is tradionally a hot hitter in the second half

[yall hate]

I assume Kotsay will be gone...but that leaves a hole in the outfield.

with Drew and Baldelli, we dont exactly have the pinnacle of health out there.  Kotsay can play the OF, Laroche cant

[oldmanspeaks]

I get to see all the Pirate games. Here is a scouting report on Laroche. He is a great defensive first baseman. He will fit right in with Youk. However as a batter he had big limitations. If he gets all fastballs, he will hit some long balls for the Sox. And he will take some pitches. However if he isn't protected (and in the Pirates lineup he isn't) and you keep throwing him breaking pitches, he can be a diaster. He is a free swinger and can get WAAAAAAY out in front of a breaking ball when behind in the count.

[yall hate]

I get to see all the Pirate games. Here is a scouting report on Laroche. He is a great defensive first baseman.

Thats odd...because every one of the major scouting service/projection sites have him as below average defensively.

edit:
-1.7 UZR this year so far

Dave Cameron's take from Fangraphs:


LaRoche is what he is - an slightly above average average left-handed bat who can play first without being a disaster and needs to be platooned. He’s good enough to start against right-handers for a team not in contention, but he’s a reserve on any team really trying to win.

ZIPS projects him for a .352 wOBA going forward, but switching to the AL East will hurt him a bit. His defense at first is below average, so the overall package is worth about +1 to +2 wins per season. He’s not a terrible player - just a bit below average. He’s also the kind of player you should never pay serious money to, which is why the Pirates had to be thrilled to dump the rest of the $7 million he was owed for 2009.

[SSFan V]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

I don't think a pitcher is likely to go -- at least not long term -- especially given the way they staff is going right now, they need all arms.

[oldmanspeaks]

clarification. I have seen Adam make a LOT of great defensive plays both stopping very hard hit balls down the line and stopping wide throws to first (he made one a few days ago that was simply spectacular). If the services are rating him below average it must because of his poor footspeed. If he can get to it, he is in no way below average.

[Chris]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

I don't think a pitcher is likely to go -- at least not long term -- especially given the way they staff is going right now, they need all arms.

You really think they need 7 relievers?  I expect, if there is not another trade, or someone else put on the DL, that either Masterson or Bard will be sent down to Pawtucket (I believe they both have options), and may start doing a bit of a back and forth thing until September. 

[ChampKind]

and is tradionally a hot hitter in the second half

Cosigned.  Laroche plays very well down the stretch.

[yall hate]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

I don't think a pitcher is likely to go -- at least not long term -- especially given the way they staff is going right now, they need all arms.

You really think they need 7 relievers?  I expect, if there is not another trade, or someone else put on the DL, that either Masterson or Bard will be sent down to Pawtucket (I believe they both have options), and may start doing a bit of a back and forth thing until September. 

Masterson, Bard and Buchholz are the three sox pitchers with options left on the ML roster.

They obviously could do masterson or bard, but why?  bard has been one of the better relievers out of the pen lately, and while masterson has been scuffling, he has been very good in the past and is semi stretched out (he can pitch 2-3 innings if needed)


Kotsay is the most logical, although that doesnt really make sense either given the OF health reputations

[SSFan V]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

I don't think a pitcher is likely to go -- at least not long term -- especially given the way they staff is going right now, they need all arms.

You really think they need 7 relievers?  I expect, if there is not another trade, or someone else put on the DL, that either Masterson or Bard will be sent down to Pawtucket (I believe they both have options), and may start doing a bit of a back and forth thing until September. 

I say they move Bucholtz back down until his start -- gives them a day or two to make another move.

[Prof. Clutch]

I'm personally always weary of NL players with bad averages (.247 ain't very good) coming over the the AL.  Pitching is harder here and it worries me some.  That being said, the Sox needed to do something and they didn't give up much to get him.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Big_Matt34]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

I don't think a pitcher is likely to go -- at least not long term -- especially given the way they staff is going right now, they need all arms.

You really think they need 7 relievers?  I expect, if there is not another trade, or someone else put on the DL, that either Masterson or Bard will be sent down to Pawtucket (I believe they both have options), and may start doing a bit of a back and forth thing until September. 

I say they move Bucholtz back down until his start -- gives them a day or two to make another move.

Buchholz is starting tonight, if i had to guess it will be either Kotsay or Bard. While losing Bard for a few weeks would hurt IIRC he needs a short amount of time in the minors this year to avoid super 2 status and stay under the Sox control for longer.

[SSFan V]

Kotsay has to be lined up to be either released or traded.

I don't know about that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a pitcher.  They have been carrying 1 more pitcher than many other teams, and could very possibly take one of them out of the bullpen.

I don't think a pitcher is likely to go -- at least not long term -- especially given the way they staff is going right now, they need all arms.

You really think they need 7 relievers?  I expect, if there is not another trade, or someone else put on the DL, that either Masterson or Bard will be sent down to Pawtucket (I believe they both have options), and may start doing a bit of a back and forth thing until September. 

I say they move Bucholtz back down until his start -- gives them a day or two to make another move.

Buchholz is starting tonight, if i had to guess it will be either Kotsay or Bard. While losing Bard for a few weeks would hurt IIRC he needs a short amount of time in the minors this year to avoid super 2 status and stay under the Sox control for longer.

Can they wait til after the game to add him to the roster?