In Need of a Bat, Red Sox Trade for Adam LaRoche

In their past four games, all losses–the final two of their series against the Toronto Blue Jays, and the first two against the Texas Rangers–the Boston Red Sox scored a grand total of eight runs.

Over that span, leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury had just a single hit in 12 at-bats. Second-place hitter Dustin Pedroia was 3-for-15, as was David Ortiz.  J.D. Drew was hitless in 14 at-bats, Jason Bay was 2-for-12 and third baseman Mike Lowell, still trying to recover from a hip injury, was 3-for-13 at the plate.

Their abysmal hitting top-to-bottom helped squander Boston’s American League East lead, now held by the New York Yankees, and forced them to trade for a bat. It wasn’t who I expected.

Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Holliday, in the last year of his contract, could have been had, though for a steep price. Cleveland Indians catcher Victor Martinez was avaliable as well. As was Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson.

But who do the Red Sox trade for? Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche.

LaRoche was an odd choice. He has had an off year, hitting only .247 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and a .329 on-base percentage.

But he’s gifted, and given his past successes, he could be a steal for Boston.

Boston hopes they will receive the player who hit 32 home runs and drove in 90 back in 2006, his final year with the Atlanta Braves. Or, at least the player who batted an average .270 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI last season.

Lowell is hurting. The Red Sox management doesn’t think he’ll make it through the season. He must be in really bad shape, because even if they thought he was 80 percent, a deal for LaRoche, or anyone for that matter, wouldn’t have been necessary.

The acquisition of LaRoche gives Lowell some rest, and allows Kevin Youkilis, a Gold Glove winner at first base, to move over to his natural position, third base.

Rookie Aaron Bates and journeyman veteran Mark Kotsay have hit pretty well in limited time, but the Red Sox didn’t want to have to count on them, especially come playoff time. LaRoche gives them depth, and a bat that could be easily rejuvenated, considering he’s now out of the slums of Pittsburgh and heading to a championship contender in Boston.

Last year, Bay was traded to the Red Sox from the Pirates in a deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He immediately adapted to his surroundings, hitting .293 with 9 homers and 37 RBI in 49 games. Boston wants, and needs, similar production out of LaRoche.

I expect the Red Sox, with LaRoche in the fold, to play Lowell two to three times a week, and give LaRoche a bulk of the playing time. If he doesn’t take after Bay, and crumbles under the pressure, they can turn to Kotsay and Bates, who, though not up to Boston’s standards, could be enough if the rest of the offense catches fire. LaRoche clearly fits the bill as a low risk, high reward acquisition. This is fine by me.

Another thing in Boston’s favor, is that if LaRoche continues to hit .240, they can just let him walk after this final season of his contract.

So, in trading two lower-level prospects, slick-fielding shortstop Argenis Diaz and pitcher Hunter Strickland, the Red Sox don’t lose much if LaRoche fails. But if he succeeds, he could make all the difference, be proclaimed a steal of sorts, and help an offense that is currently woeful.