Red Sox Acquire Adam LaRoche

The Pirates sent Adam LaRoche to the Red Sox for minor leaguers Argentis Diaz and Hunter Strickland.  It looks like a good old-fashioned salary dump by the Pirates.

Diaz is a slick fielding, light hitting 22 year old shortstop playing at the AA level.  If he can learn to hit in the next couple of years, he’s got a chance.

Strickland is a 20 year old pitcher currently pitching in the Class A South Atlantic League.  He has a nearly four-to-one Ks-to-walks ratio, but with only 51 Ks in 83.1 IP at this level of play, he’s hardly a grade-A prospect.

Adam Laroche is having a poor season (.770 OPS, poor for a 1Bman), and he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.  I assume that the BoSox wanted him in case David Ortiz’s hitting doesn’t come around or either Youkilis or Lowell gets hurt again.  Besides, he comes cheap in terms of talent traded away, and the Sox can afford to add salary.

After years of futility playing in Pittsburg, Laroche is probably thrilled to be going to the BoSox, even as a bench player.  Fenway is a good place to hit, and if LaRoche can rise to the occasion, he’ll be in a much better position going into his free agency.

Given what the Pirates got in return, I have to assume that the Red Sox agreed to take all or most of Laroche’s remaining 2009 salary.  Meanwhile, the Pirates strengthen their minor league teams, turn a small profit thanks to revenue sharing, and wait for next season.