Post by Pohlfan33 on Jul 22, 2009 17:11:11 GMT -4
Though conventional wisdom is that teams try to avoid redundancy, the Red Sox are actually trying to create some down the stretch to cover themselves in terms of depth and potential injuries. And that was the thinking behind the deal that brought left-handed-hitting first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Red Sox on Wednesday.
To get LaRoche, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein dealt two prospects -- shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-hander Hunter Strickland -- to the Pirates.
A starter for the Pirates, LaRoche, who is hitting .247 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs, will come off the bench in Boston. But he figures to get plenty of chances to play for Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who is adept at utilizing his entire bench.
"We've been in the market for a player who could do some damage against right-handed pitching and help our club's depth at the corner infield," said Theo Epstein. "We've checked in on a number of players that fit that category and found that, by a large, large margin, the Pirates had the most reasonable acquisition cost. This was a chance to get, at a very reasonable acquisition cost, a player that we think will help our club against right-handed pitching and add to our depth and leave us in a position to continue to look for more impact before the end of the trading deadline."
To get LaRoche, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein dealt two prospects -- shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-hander Hunter Strickland -- to the Pirates.
A starter for the Pirates, LaRoche, who is hitting .247 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs, will come off the bench in Boston. But he figures to get plenty of chances to play for Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who is adept at utilizing his entire bench.
"We've been in the market for a player who could do some damage against right-handed pitching and help our club's depth at the corner infield," said Theo Epstein. "We've checked in on a number of players that fit that category and found that, by a large, large margin, the Pirates had the most reasonable acquisition cost. This was a chance to get, at a very reasonable acquisition cost, a player that we think will help our club against right-handed pitching and add to our depth and leave us in a position to continue to look for more impact before the end of the trading deadline."
