As some may be aware, I contribute to The Hardball Times, serviing as their transaction guru. I opined on the LaRoche trade just now. Some excerpts:
Given the Sox needed hitting against right-handed pitching and it’s the second half, LaRoche had to be considered one of the best bats on the market for the Sox to acquire.
LaRoche ranks 17th in first-baseman OPS against right-handers (out of 29 possibles with a minimum 150 plate appearances, ahead of names such as James Loney, Jorge Cantu, Paul Konerko and Nick Johnson). Last year, he ranked 15th, sandwiched in between Joey Votto and Miguel Cabrera.
Defensively, LaRoche is average to below-average. This may have normally been a concern with fielding whizzes Youkilis and Lowell in the fold, but Lowell’s balky hip has given him a terrible -15.7 UZR/150 at third (just a year ago, he finished at 15.6) so LaRoche’s defense might actually prove an upgrade while he is on the field.
I go on to summarize the Pirates’ end of the deal, and conclude that LaRoche is what the Sox needed to deepen their bench and provide much-needed offense. What do you think?