The clear winner in the LaRoche trade
It was last season that Adam LaRoche really put it together with his bat. It was his first year of full time duty after sharing the position for two years in a platoon situation at first base with Julio Franco. He had been known as a player who would hit for average in his minor league career, but improvements in his slugging and on base percentage pushed him into new territory with a 915 OPS. While those numbers included the 30 Home runs, a feat that one day sure seemed to mean alot. The year he had put him in the range of a top 10 at his position, achieving 17 Total Win Shares. It certainly does not make him an elite first baseman by any means. He recieved criticism for not showing the grit on the field with his effort, but it was later revealed that he suffers from A.D.D. So if he looks more John Olerud than Kirk Gibson there is a reason.
With his 2006 campaign under his belt, LaRoche is due to get a hefty increase in his pay. Now, LaRoche is one decent bat to throw into a lineup, but he is not yet at the point where he is the heart and soul of the batting order, or if he ever will be. The Pirates gave up a closer in Mike Gonzalez who is young and was flawless in converting each of his save opportunity last year. In trading LaRoche, the Braves will miss his consistency. However, to land a closer which was a pressing need for the Braves its a good deal for them. Brad Eldred the up and coming first baseman for the Pirates is nowhere near close to being ready for the big leagues. I give the Braves the clear edge on this deal as young closers with poise do not grow on trees.
January 18th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Actually, I believe the Braves won….but for a totally different reason.
First off, Mike Gonzalez won’t be closing for the Braves anytime soon. He’s recovering from some arm problems and has combined for just 150 IP in the last 3 years(Basically 50 IP a year, which isn’t much even for a reliever). However, a bullpen trio of Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez and Bob Wickman is a vast upgrade on what they had last year. However, I don’t think Gonzalez will be on the Braves for long.
If you look at the 2 prospects traded in the trade, you’ll see where the Braves won. Atlanta received Brent Lillibridge, while Pittsburgh received some scrub named Romak. Lillibridge, while old for his league, is a MLB-ready SS with great On-base skills. If he were to consider a move from SS to 2B, which would be beneficial to him, he’d become a sleeper 2B candidate due to his BA/SB skills.
Romak, while still young and very large, hasn’t done anything hitting-wise as of yet and looks to be a career minor leaguer.
LaRoche may be an improvement for the Pirates now, his defensive and one-sidedness make him a horrible pick-up.
If Atlanta manages to trade Gonzalez to New York for Melky Cabrera, who they’ve been known to be wanting, they will win this trade hands-down.
January 19th, 2007 at 3:05 am
Yeah, I heard the arm problems talk. Hard to tell now, but Gonzo has to pass the physical. I agree the Braves got a good one here. Sounds as Bucs got another Brad Eldred