The latest rumor du jour has the Atlanta Braves on a short list to re-acquire their old first baseman, Adam LaRoche. This was first reported on Twitter by Jon Heyman of SI.com and confirmed by multiple sources, including the Braves beat writer Mark Bowman. LaRoche is owed around $3 million by the Red Sox after they acquired him from the Pirates last week. With the acquisition today of Victor Martinez, LaRoche becomes expendible to the Red Sox.

On the surface it makes little sense other than the fact that we like reunions. LaRoche would be a power upgrade over Casey Kotchman at first base, but he is making just under $3 mil for the entire year and is far cheaper than LaRoche would be. They're also both OPS-ing about the same this year.

The only way I can see the Braves biting is if they feel this would strengthen their bench to have one of those guys sitting half the time. Neither one can play the outfield. So, again, this rumor sort of baffles me as to the Braves actual interest. Why waste $3 mil on LaRoche for the rest of the season when you have a perfectly good and affordable first baseman (who hasn't made an error in a year).

Unless the Red Sox just want to give him away for free, or give him to us if we take the salary. That's the only way I can see us getting him.

Stay tuned.

[UPDATE: 3:40pm]

Some people say it's a done deal, including a Boston station, NESN. But Braves.com's Mark Bowman says not so fast:

If Braves complete deal for LaRoche and it appears they're very close to doing so, Kotchman won't necessarily be included in three-way trade

Interesting. The other reports we've heard have Casey Kotchman going to Boston, but maybe this "three-way" would have him going elsewhere, like Cleveland.