Pirates/Braves make trade

[SteelersfaninPhilly]

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clock Jan 17, 2007 6:10 pm US/Eastern
Pirates Make A Major Trade

(KDKA) PITTSBURGH KDKA-TV Sports has learned that the Pirates are finally going to get the left-handed power bat they have been looking for.

The Pirates and Atlanta Braves have agreed in principal to a deal that would send closer Mike Gonzalez and a minor league pitcher to Atlanta for 27 year old Adam LaRoche.

KDKA's Bob Pompeani reports LaRoche is a solid defensive player but, most of all, he's the kind of left-handed bat that could make him a prolific home run hitter at PNC Park.

Last year, he had 32 home runs and 90 runs batted in.

LaRoche is going through arbitration for the first time.

In fact, the Braves have offered him $2.8 million for this year, but LaRoche wants $3.7 million.

The deal is pending a physical for both LaRoche and Gonzalez.

But LaRoche, if everything goes well from that standpoint, will become the Pirates' everyday first-baseman.

The Braves had wanted one of the Pirates' starters, specifically Paul Maholm.

Our sources indicate the Pirates will give the Braves a minor-league pitcher instead.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

[Black@Gold Forever32]

I think this is a good move by the Buccos. It sucks losing a closer like Gonzo. But the Pirates needed a left handed power in their lineup and LaRoche gives the Pirates that.

[SteelerDan43]

Finally a move that makes sense, moving something we have a crap load of for something we need! I never thought that would happen lol

[SteelerFan87]

Dammit! Why the **** would you trade a lights out closer like Gonzalez (who you've been developing as your closer for the past few years) instead of a guy like Maholm who you can easily replace with all the other young starters we have. Maholm is nothing special compared to some of the other guys we have. Right now we have Snell, Duke, Burnett, Van Benschotten, Chacon (right?) and Brad Lincoln. We shouldn't have traded Perez because we didn't get anything good for him (Nady? Come on.) Why not keep Perez, then trade Maholm for LaRoche? Nope. Instead we totally ****ed up so that we can't afford to trade Maholm and we end up losing a great young closer in Gonzales.

[SteelerDan43]

Because we have bullpen guys coming out of ears!!!

[SteelerFan87]

Because we have bullpen guys coming out of ears!!!

Yeah, but there's a difference between good bullpen guys and good closers. Gonzo was awesome as a closer. Now what? We have Torres be the closer and wait another 2 years to develop a new one?

[SteelerDan43]

My feeling on it is that yes we had to give up a good player to get a good player but the player we get not only boosts our everyday power production but will allow other players to see better pitches. The everyday effect of a power hitter I think outweighs that of a closer. Especially when we have an abundance of bullpen guys to fill in, not only Torres but Grabow was an effective setup guy that is still relatively young and could grow into the closer's role along with alot of other bullpen guys up and comming. I just think that the benifits outweigh the costs. To get a guy like Laroche wasnt going to come cheap and we werent going to be able to get one in FA with the price hike so overall I think the deal was pretty good!

[PITT23]

I love this trade.

A closer is no good if we barely have any games for him tom come in and close a win for us.

[Stairwayto7]

We needed a leftie, this works well i hope

[TEEMONT]

Good deal

[Blitzburgh55]

I love this trade.

A closer is no good if we barely have any games for him tom come in and close a win for us.

:hilarious: So true