LaRoche traded

bravefan29 · 01-17-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for left-handed closer Mike Gonzalez and another player, a Pirates team official confirmed Wednesday.

Neither team would comment publicly on the deal, which will be finalized after the players pass physicals. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also reported the trade on its website. The addition of Gonzalez, a hard thrower who converted 24 of 24 save opportunities for the Pirates last season, would give the Braves one the best bullpens in the major leagues.

Gonzalez and newcomer Rafael Soriano would serve as setup men to closer Bob Wickman, who converted 18 of 19 saves for the Braves after coming from Cleveland in a July 20 trade. The Braves got Soriano in a December trade for starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez.

Gonzalez, 29, had a 2.17 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 54 innings before missing the final five weeks of the season with tendinitis in his pitching elbow. A postseason MRI exam revealed no tissue damage and Gonzalez has reportedly been throwing without pain this winter.

No announcement of the trade was expected to be made Wednesday, but all the details of the long-rumored trade had been completed. It was unclear who else the Braves would get in the trade, but the Pirates had refused for several weeks to include center fielder Chris Duffy or one of their top young starting pitchers.

Braves trade LaRoche to Pirates | ajc.com

Cosmic_Avenger · 01-17-2007, 05:51 PM

Shazbot!

Well, there goes the neighborhood.

Who will replace, Adam?

Yogi44 · 01-17-2007, 05:56 PM

I say it'll be Scott Thorman, with a platoon possible of mystery player? Maybe sigining somone like Craig Wilson who I think is still out there.

Cosmic_Avenger · 01-17-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi44

I say it'll be Scott Thorman, with a platoon possible of mystery player? Maybe sigining somone like Craig Wilson who I think is still out there.

Yogi, what do you think of Thorman's ability to replace Adam? I thought he was a little rough around the edges, but the talent is clearly there...

Don't know much about Wilson, what do you think of his play?

bravefan29 · 01-17-2007, 07:37 PM

Quote:

The Pirates agreed on Wednesday to trade closer Mike Gonzalez and minor-league shortstop Brent Lillibridge to the Braves for LaRoche and minor-league outfielder Jamie Romak. The deal is not expected to be announced until Thursday or Friday as the players must undergo physical examinations.

Link

MikeT · 01-17-2007, 08:00 PM

Didn't Brian Jordan retire??

bedir than average · 01-17-2007, 08:37 PM

Any interest from the Braves fans in Ben Broussard or Richie Sexson?

BravesRule22 · 01-17-2007, 08:49 PM

Thorman is the man

Been on his bandwagon for 3 years now

Metaphysicist · 01-17-2007, 11:14 PM

I like this move because I like Thorman and I like Lillibridge and I like Gonzalez. Lillibridge will be super sweet or my name isn't Jack Handy.

Quote:

Any interest from the Braves fans in Ben Broussard or Richie Sexson?

I think we would gladly take Richie if you were willing to send 20 million dollars along with him. You must remember that this is the team that cuts All-Star second basemen because they can't afford 5 million dollars.

DanDan · 01-17-2007, 11:37 PM

I think Thorman is the first choice but it wouldn't suprise me if they invited a veteran to spring training to compete for the job.

drewdat · 01-18-2007, 01:48 AM

We need a backup plan. Craig Wilson, Carlos Pena, Hee-Seop Choi (HEEEEEEEEEEEE!), whoever. Oh, that's right. Chris Woodward.

D55 · 01-18-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Richie Sexson?

I think his contract would kill any thoughts there.

bedir than average · 01-18-2007, 10:40 AM

I'll have to repost the research, but I had it during the merger era (FanHome/scout). I found that when a team deals a player who receives 10M$ or more in annual salary that team pays on average 50% of the remaining value of the deal. Either through straight cash or lesser priced but poorly performing players.

A case for the Braves fans to think of is the Mike Hampton deal.

drewdat · 01-18-2007, 11:31 AM

Hampton, to an extent, has been trashing our budget, tying up way too much money in 5 or 6 players, and I'm pretty sure he was the last one added from outside (Smoltz has more recent contracts). He wouldn't be a bad value if we had different (or non-existent) constraints. If he pitches like Cy this year, it may turn into a clear win for the Braves yet. Not really the type of deal I'd advocate for the type of player who would come with a lot of cash (and who knows how Hampton's salary was distributed by ownership, probably counted the av. annual 8 million in the nearly free years and then full value in the last couple).

bedir than average · 01-18-2007, 11:39 AM

But the fact still remains that the Braves were/are only paying him about 33% of the contract that he signed with Colorado. Or think back to the Thome to the White Sox deal where the Phillies paid 52% of his remaining deal.

If the Mariners were to be willing to either pay in cash, or accept bad contracts back worth 50% of Sexson's remaining 2 year, 28M$ deal would he be a fit for Atlanta.

Obviously at full contract it wouldn't work.

01-17-2007, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
MikeT Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,496	Didn't Brian Jordan retire?? __________________ You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think. Milton Berle

01-17-2007, 08:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Any interest from the Braves fans in Ben Broussard or Richie Sexson? __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

01-17-2007, 08:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	Thorman is the man Been on his bandwagon for 3 years now __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

01-18-2007, 10:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	I'll have to repost the research, but I had it during the merger era (FanHome/scout). I found that when a team deals a player who receives 10M$ or more in annual salary that team pays on average 50% of the remaining value of the deal. Either through straight cash or lesser priced but poorly performing players. A case for the Braves fans to think of is the Mike Hampton deal. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

01-18-2007, 11:39 AM	#15 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	But the fact still remains that the Braves were/are only paying him about 33% of the contract that he signed with Colorado. Or think back to the Thome to the White Sox deal where the Phillies paid 52% of his remaining deal. If the Mariners were to be willing to either pay in cash, or accept bad contracts back worth 50% of Sexson's remaining 2 year, 28M$ deal would he be a fit for Atlanta. Obviously at full contract it wouldn't work. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

01-17-2007, 05:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cosmic_Avenger Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 904	Shazbot! Well, there goes the neighborhood. Who will replace, Adam?

01-17-2007, 05:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Yogi44 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: McGee's Crossroads, NC Posts: 253	I say it'll be Scott Thorman, with a platoon possible of mystery player? Maybe sigining somone like Craig Wilson who I think is still out there.

01-17-2007, 11:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
DanDan Rookie Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 7	I think Thorman is the first choice but it wouldn't suprise me if they invited a veteran to spring training to compete for the job.

01-18-2007, 01:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
drewdat Rookie Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 8	We need a backup plan. Craig Wilson, Carlos Pena, Hee-Seop Choi (HEEEEEEEEEEEE!), whoever. Oh, that's right. Chris Woodward.

01-18-2007, 11:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
drewdat Rookie Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 8	Hampton, to an extent, has been trashing our budget, tying up way too much money in 5 or 6 players, and I'm pretty sure he was the last one added from outside (Smoltz has more recent contracts). He wouldn't be a bad value if we had different (or non-existent) constraints. If he pitches like Cy this year, it may turn into a clear win for the Braves yet. Not really the type of deal I'd advocate for the type of player who would come with a lot of cash (and who knows how Hampton's salary was distributed by ownership, probably counted the av. annual 8 million in the nearly free years and then full value in the last couple).