July 22, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Sox get LaRoche from Pirates for Diaz, Strickland
The Red Sox have reportedly acquired lefty-hitting first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor leaguers Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland. LaRoche, 29, posted a .247/.329/.441 line with 12 home runs, 24 doubles and 1 triple in 87 games with the Pirates in 2009. LaRoche, a six year veteran, owns a career .269/.338/.456 line. He is scheduled to become a free agent after this season. Diaz, a 22-year-old short stop, was the twenty-ninth rated prospect by SoxProspects.com at the time of the trade and had known for his highly rated glove more than his bat. He was hitting .253/.309/.310 with 14 doubles and 1 triple in 76 games with Portland and had displayed uncharacteristic shakiness in the field at times. Strickland, a tall 20-year-old right-hander was ranked thirty-eighth at the time of the trade. Working with a high-80s to low-90s fastball, he had a 5-4 record with a 3.35 ERA, allowing 31 earned runs on 85 hits over 83.1 innings pitched, striking out 51 while walking 13 in 18 appearances (12 starts) with Greenville in 2009. He projects as a reliever at the major league level.