Braves Deal LaRoche for Pirate's Gonzalez

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Well...there goes one of our suggestions for a closer...

 

The Braves dealt Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez...just saw it on Sportscenter moments ago. Here's the article from ESPN.com...

 

 

The Pittsburgh Pirates, filling their need for a left-handed power bat, acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday for lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez.

 

The Braves will receive another as yet unidentified player. Neither team would comment and an announcement is not yet scheduled.

 

The Pirates and Braves had been discussing a LaRoche-Gonzalez swap for weeks. Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield was looking to upgrade an offense that ranked last in the National League with 141 home runs and a .397 slugging percentage.

 

LaRoche hit 32 homers and drove in 90 runs last season and finished in a tie for seventh in the National League with a .561 slugging percentage.

 

Gonzalez went 3-4 with 24 saves and a 2.17 ERA for the Pirates in 2006.

 

Gonzalez should help improve an Atlanta bullpen that went 25-23 with a 4.39 ERA last season and blew a league-high 29 saves. Bob Wickman saved 18 games after coming over in a July trade with Cleveland, and the Braves picked up reliever Rafael Soriano from Seattle last month in a deal for starter Horacio Ramirez.

 

The Braves will go into 2007 with a new right side of the infield. Kelly Johnson and Martin Prado are the leading candidates to replace second baseman Marcus Giles, who signed with San Diego when the Braves declined to tender him a contract in December. Scott Thorman, who hit five homers in 128 at-bats with Atlanta last season, could replace LaRoche at first base.

 

The Pirates also talked to Arizona about a possible deal for Chad Tracy, and had considered Trot Nixon and several other free agents.

 

During the course of the Pittsbugh-Atlanta talks, the Braves asked about center fielder Chris Duffy along with Gonzalez. But Littlefield reportedly was unwilling to part with Duffy or any of the Pirates' top young pitching prospects.

 

With Wickman set in the closer's role in Atlanta, it appears that Gonzalez will be used as a setup man. Some baseball insiders are speculating that the Braves might be interested in flipping around Gonzalez as part of a second deal. The Yankees, among other clubs, have expressed interest in Gonzalez.

 

Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN Insider.

[Anuj09]

umm ook why the f*** did the braves do that ?

[Gom]

umm ook why the f*** did the braves do that ?

 

Amen.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Gonzalez has shown flashes of brilliance and I guess the Braves feel like they have a plethora of outfielders with Diaz, Jones, Langerhans, etc...won't be a bad deal if the Braves have locked up their closer of the future.

[Gom]

However, considering they are a near lock to trade Jones, I'm shocked. The guy was 7th in the NL in slugging...for a reliever?

[redsoxrules]

However' date=' considering they are a near lock to trade Jones, I'm shocked. The guy was 7th in the NL in slugging...for a reliever?[/quote']

 

well the braves did blew 29 saves last season

[Moose]

well the braves did blew 29 saves last season

 

Yep

[Papelbon58]

I honestly think this is a terrific deal for the Braves. I was not aware Adam LaRoche was an elite slugger. He is an above average home run hitter who rarely offers any hustle plays and does not seem to fit the Braves mold. They get a closer, and a fairly good one at that. Great deal for the Braves. Scott Thorman should be ready soon to at least somewhat fill the not so gaping hole left by LaRoche.

[jacksonianmarch]

this is a great deal for us. This means the team that had been talking about moving Gonzalez to us now has him. With Vizcaino on the team now, he and Melky may be enough.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Did...did the Pirates just make a decent trade? Anyone?

[seabeachfred]

However' date=' considering they are a near lock to trade Jones, I'm shocked. The guy was 7th in the NL in slugging...for a reliever?[/quote']

 

This could mean that the Braves might be serious about resigning Andreu Jones. They will certainly need power now that LaRoche is gone. Chipper is not getting any younger and Franceour blows hot and cold. I think the Braves will be going all out to resign Jones this coming season.

[seabeachfred]

Did...did the Pirates just make a decent trade? Anyone?

 

I think this is a trade that will help them both. I just had a thought, though. If Gonzales iss going to be their closer, that might make Wickman available. Think that guy could become our closer for a year or two? Just a thought.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I think this is a trade that will help them both. I just had a thought' date=' though. If Gonzales iss going to be their closer, that might make Wickman available. Think that guy could become our closer for a year or two? Just a thought.[/quote']

 

It seems like the Sox are more interested in seeing how Pineiro is going to do. To be fair, Id love to see Wickman as a closer for a season or two, but realistically I dont see the Sox going after him.

[Cocos Disciples]

Don't they already have Wickman and Soriano?

 

And their 1B is now Scott Thorman, correct? He's solid.

[seabeachfred]

It seems like the Sox are more interested in seeing how Pineiro is going to do. To be fair' date=' Id love to see Wickman as a closer for a season or two, but realistically I dont see the Sox going after him.[/quote']

 

Youk, I wonder what it would take to pry Wickman from the Braves? They are not a team like Tampa Bay to hold another club up. If we gave them a prospect they think could help them in a year or two we might be able to swing it. As it is, another closer prospect possibly just became available. I think the Red Sox should look into it. Wouldn't hurt to try.

 

This is Chris Widger you're talking about, isn't it? Is he still with the White Sox or a FA, and if he is can he catch a knuckle ball and if he can why the hell did we resign Mirabelli?

[Anuj09]

Don't they already have Wickman and Soriano?

 

And their 1B is now Scott Thorman, correct? He's solid.

 

but can the braves expect 30 hr's from him ?

[BSN07]

In no way do I want to see the Sox send more prospects to the NL East for an aging over weight NL closer.

[jacksonianmarch]

BSN. He is NOT an NL closer. The guy spent half of last yr in the AL and in 05 he was the AL saves leader. He is far from spectacular, but he was 33/37 in SvOps last yr and 45/50 the yr before. He's ugly, he's fat, he doesnt have the best stuff, but he is a guy who will plod along and be a solid yet unspectacular closer. You guys shouldnt need a lights out bullpen with your rotation having the potential to be nasty. You need one that wont give it up twice a week, like the one that is currently constructed.

[BSN07]

Maybe a mid level to a low prospect for him, but nothing of much quality.

[jacksonianmarch]

Maybe a mid level to a low prospect for him' date=' but nothing of much quality.[/quote']

 

You dont have much concept of the dearth of relief pitching on the market, do you? The guy is a proven closer. You will have to deal something of value for him.

[BSN07]

If he so proven, why did ATL get Soriano and Gonzalez? Doesn't look like there to trusting in this guy. They have gone and gotten two younger harder throwing guys because with old fat relievers they may pull out a couple nice seasons but they fall off very quickly.

 

If they trade him they def. will be selling hi. he's hit his peak and will not fair better in the AL East. He is not the solution. And yes I realize the junk that is left ont he market, but I would rather them go with what they got and see where it goes then to give up a prospect or two for a guy who will not do well in the AL East.

[jacksonianmarch]

Wickman isnt a long range option, but a good short term one. He's on a one yr deal.

[seabeachfred]

Wickman isnt a long range option' date=' but a good short term one. He's on a one yr deal.[/quote']

 

Jackson, the Red Sox don't need a long range deal for a closer. They need one badly right now. Wickman is probably now available with the Braves getting Gonzales. If the Red Sox do not at least try and make such a trade they are negligent to the nth degree.

[jacksonianmarch]

Jackson' date=' the Red Sox don't need a long range deal for a closer. They need one badly right now. Wickman is probably now available with the Braves getting Gonzales. If the Red Sox do not at least try and make such a trade they are negligent to the nth degree.[/quote']

 

I agree. Wickman has proven he can close in the AL. He is not flashy, he's no Mo. He's not a guy who you bring into a tie game and hope you come back to win. But he's a guy who you can hand a lead to and say dont blow it.

[Rodney Harrison]

The Braves got Soriano and Gonzalez to get younger. Wickman will be 38 this year, so obviously he's not a long-term player. The Pirates probably won't have that many leads to protect, so they stacked themselves with another bat. As of today, I'd say that the Braves won ths trade.

[CrespoBlows]

The SS prospect the Braves got is supposed to be very good, he hit 13 HR's, and got on base at a .420 clip. He should be a regular, maybe as soon as 2008.

[seabeachfred]

I agree. Wickman has proven he can close in the AL. He is not flashy' date=' he's no Mo. He's not a guy who you bring into a tie game and hope you come back to win. But he's a guy who you can hand a lead to and say dont blow it.[/quote']

 

Well then Jackson, we both agree on that. Now I just wonder if Theo will make a play for the guy? I saw him do well for the Guardians last season on a few games I saw him pitch on TV and he did ok for the Braves. They have a closer to spare. The Red Sox should look into it.

[TGov]

Well then Jackson' date=' we both agree on that. Now I just wonder if Theo will make a play for the guy? I saw him do well for the Guardians last season on a few games I saw him pitch on TV and he did ok for the Braves. They have a closer to spare. The Red Sox should look into it.[/quote']

 

that would make a lot of sense, the Braves have 2 closers, the Sox have 0... why not throw a guy at the Braves for 1 or 2 years of Wickman... I'd take that, trade either a RP or SP away... but good for the Braves on landing Gonzalez, I did like LaRoche but the Braves had a lot of struggles with a closer last year, much like the Sox did with they're Starting pitching... well now they have a quality, and fairly young closer with some potential... they just gotta decide on what they're going to do with 1st base, unless they're going to start Throman who's coming off his Rookie season... doesn't look that bad from his last year statistics, or I was thinking of moving Chipper to first and have Willy Aybar start at third, probaly would make more sense with Aybar having Major League experience and played pretty well last season...

[seabeachfred]

that would make a lot of sense' date=' the Braves have 2 closers, the Sox have 0... why not throw a guy at the Braves for 1 or 2 years of Wickman... I'd take that, trade either a RP or SP away... but good for the Braves on landing Gonzalez, I did like LaRoche but the Braves had a lot of struggles with a closer last year, much like the Sox did with they're Starting pitching... well now they have a quality, and fairly young closer with some potential... they just gotta decide on what they're going to do with 1st base, unless they're going to start Throman who's coming off his Rookie season... doesn't look that bad from his last year statistics, or I was thinking of moving Chipper to first and have Willy Aybar start at third, probaly would make more sense with Aybar having Major League experience and played pretty well last season...[/quote']

 

Wickman could be our closer for a year or two while Hansen finally finds himself. I think the guy did very well for Cleveland and Atlanta last season and it looks like he might be available. A closer is what we need.

[jacksonianmarch]

What needs to be realized is that the Braves can very easily live for 08 with a great pen of Wickman closing, Soriano and Gonzalez setting up. They dont HAVE to deal Wickman. At the same token, the sox have one of the worst bullpens this side of Tampa Bay while sinking nearly 140 mil into a team that will have a good offense and rotation. They dont have the luxury of waiting this out. The Braves would have them over a barrel. Though he wont be as costly as Cordero, he will still cost the sox something of value.