Wondering if Boston got LaRoche just to use in trade...

[Maris09]

Since the Red Sox are still allegedly going after guys like Victor Martinez and possibly even Adrian Gonzalez, seems like LaRoche may be a guy going back out in another trade (to make it easier on the other team who's dealing their 1B).

Could be a good time to buy low on LaRoche if an owner is thinking he's going to be a part time player.

Thoughts?

[KCollins1304]

He's a free agent after this year, so that doesn't make any sense. Teams that would be trading A-Gon or V-Mart have already given up on this season so LaRoche is worthless to them.

[neoforce]

He's a free agent after this year, so that doesn't make any sense. Teams that would be trading A-Gon or V-Mart have already given up on this season so LaRoche is worthless to them.

I agree. The more likely scenario is that Theo got LaRoche as protection for Lowell as a standalone deal to improve their depth. (As was originally discussed after that deal.)

Clearly the Sox are worried about their offense, and would love to get A-Gon or V-Mart. If somehow they get one of those big guns, then it is possible, but not too likely, that LaRoche is included in that deal. More likely is LaRoche is kept for depth (and gets almost no playing time) or is dumped to someone like the Giants for some mid level prospect.

I can't believe it was a master plan to get LaRoche to flip back to SD or Cleveland.

[MashinSpuds]

It all could just be more of the same from the Sox in that they put their names out there for everyone so that the Yanks don't get too comfortable. The Yanks, on the other hand, have taken the silent sneak attack approach, which also seems to work since every rumoring sportsnut keeps saying that the Yankees could sweep in at any time, etc etc. So, I still stand by the idea that the Sox made their big 2009 trade with LaRoche.

[buffalobillsrul2002]

I think the deal was more about what the Sox had to give up (essentially nothing) than it was about what they actually got. LaRoche helps out as depth, and is an excellent PH, especially since all the Sox gave up to get him was essentially the 3 million or so they still have to pay LaRoche.

[Maris09]

Guess they did get him to trade.

[CadensDad]

Guess they did get him to trade.

Still don't think that was the original plan with him though. I think once they realized they had V-Mart they didn't need him as much and Kotchman fits into their team much better

[RocketsDWM]

Not their original intention. Kotchman fit into their plans better when they acquired V-Mart. Theo wanted a hitter who could slide into a pinch hitting role and could be a defensive replacement late in the game. Kotchman fit that to a "T". LaRoche needs fairly regular playing time and Boston could not offer that. Hence the deal.

[Maris09]

None of you know what they're original intention was.

They had been looking at VMart for a while, hard to think they didn't consider it a possibility that they'd eventually land him.
Either way they got LaRoche for basically nothing, so I guess why not do it.

[CadensDad]

None of you know what they're original intention was.

But you do?