The Curious Case of the Adam LaRoche Trade

Chipper to first, Prado to third, KJ starts at second? That was my first thought for next year. But i’m not sure how good Prado is at 3rd defensively though.

What about sticking McCann at 1st base and David Ross at full-time cathcer until Freeman gets called up? BTW – I only see this as a realistic option if we are confident that Freeman can get called up in June/July.

Pros:
- David Ross stats for 2009: 281 .384 .531 .915
- David Ross has 6 HRs in only 113 plate appearances (compare this to Kotchman)
- Lessens McCann’s wear and tear from playing catcher to 1/2 year
- 1B is the least important fielding position so McCann should be able to suffice in short term

Cons:
- McCann’s All-star appearances streak at Catcher would end
- Could hurt McCann’s “defensive development” at Catcher
- McCann would have to spend significant time learning how to play 1B
- Ross is old and probably can’t play 4-5 times a week

There’s probably a lot more “cons” I’m forgetting. This probably won’t happen because McCann would be against it (he loves playing catcher), but it might be best for the team.

I didn’t understand the trade when it happened and I still don’t understand it. The only thing that makes since is freeing up salary and letting our 19 year old cuban prospect bridge the gap to Freeman saving us money for the next year or two. What sucks is Kotchman is one hell of a first baseman def. wise and he is not going to get hardly any playing time in Boston.
    
 The Braves will have to fill LF, RF, Bull Pen, and 1st. It just seems like they are trying to free up as much money as possible.

- Good defense at 1st base is not valued very highly.
- The Angels, Braves, and now the Red Sox seem to view Kotchman as more of a back-up 1B, not a starter.

Atleast we have David Ross for next year maybe the Braves will allow him to play first base; He has the most power on the team and sees the field twice a month. They can use Barbaro Canizares when McCann needs a break unless McCann wants to play first but that might get ugly.

Uhhh, you guys are missing a huge point about this trade. Casey is going to enter arbitration for the first time next year and the Braves were likely not going to pay him what he would’ve won from the arbitration case. In fact, he was likely going to be non-tendered and lost anyway. There is always a chance that we can talk Laroche into a short term deal because of his ties with this ball club. Either way Laroche is merely a stop gap for Freddie Freeman.

And if we can’t resign Laroche and Freeman isn’t ready, which is likely, we could use Prado at first and KJ at second for next year.

Adam LaRoche, Nick Johnson, Russell Branyan, and Troy Glaus are all FA’s who could play 1B for us next year. None of them are getting big contracts, one year up to 5 million dollars will get us one of those guys. Glaus and Johnson could be more incentive based due to injury risk

LaRoche to a 3 year deal….Give Freeman an outfielders glove to see if he can play put there.

All kinds of plans and line-ups for next year, but nary a mention of Garret Anderson. Last fall I suggested him as a cost-effective option for LF. I was dismissed by all the free spenders of other people’s money who thought the Braves could ante up for the likes of Adam Dunn. After missing much of Spring Training due to injury, Anderson was lambasted on this board almost daily. But he has quietly earned his way into the middle of the line-up, and I hope the Braves will offer him reasonable terms to return in 2010. He is a proven hitter of major league pitching, lefthanders and righthanders.

Jordan Schafer? If and when the kid eliminates the hole in his swing that resulted in so many K’s with the Braves, then let him fight it out with Matt Diaz and, if he’s still around, Ryan Church for the fourth outfielder spot. All he has proven so far is that he is a fine defensive outfielder.

Adam LaRoche is smart enough to figure out that with future all-star Jason Heyward in right field next year, the Braves are likely to return to the post-season. Adam would be well advised to earn a one year extension with the Braves, and hope the economy improves by Fall of 2010. He could build his value with a winning team, while Freddie Freeman, presently age 19, sharpens his skills in Gwinnett..

The Braves were just tired of Kotchman. BC was tired of having to manage around what he perceived as Kotchman’s shortcomings. The entire team was tired of Kotchman’s passive locker room persona. Frank Wren was tired of listening to everyone complain. Once a player gets on Bobby’s bad side, the clock is ticking. Plus, the temptation to re-acquire Adam LaRoche for what Bobby believes is a possible pennant run was too much to resist. That’s the ‘why’ part.

Here’s what won’t happen:

• LaRoche won’t take a one-year contract extension. You can forget that. LaRoche will never again find himself in anything like the leveraged negotiating position he is in this year, and he will be compelled to use it to secure his family’s future. He would be crazy not to.

• The Braves won’t sign LaRoche for three years. That makes no sense at all from an economic of personnel standpoint, and Wren hasn’t shown any signs of being that reckless.

• The Braves won’t trade Freddie Freeman.

• The Braves won’t move Chipper Jones to 1b.

• The Braves won’t use Barbaro Canizarez as their everyday first baseman.

And here’s what’s fairly obvious:

• Wren really didn’t want to go to offseason arbitration with Kotchman.

• The Braves will be happy to get a draft choice when LaRoche walks.

• Freeman is the Braves’ future first baseman. Freddie may be ready sometime in the second half of 2010, but he won’t be ready next April. He’s still only 19 years old. And Gondeee did a great job of laying out the dilemma this presents.

• Martin Prado will play first base until Freeman is ready.

• Omar Infante will probably be the second baseman in 2010, but….

• The club is still obviously receptive to starting KJ at 2b if he makes a case for himself. They would still love to see KJ fulfill the potential they foresaw when they drafted him #1. But even if he can’t do that, they would at least like for him to increase his value as a tradeable commodity on the 2010 market.

Hey it is apparent that Bobby & Frank both dig LaRoche so offer him a $10mil 2yr deal an if he wants more let him walk an get someone else. My biggest concern is that everyone is rushing Heyward an Freeman to the Majors and the last thing I want is another Frenchy type setup for either of our young guns.

I mean after this week we will be done for the year anyway so we might as well discuss next year.

Go Braves !!!

two words for you: Hank Blalock

Is LaRoche going to be a Type B free agent and if so is there any possibility of him being a Type A Free Agent?