BOSTON, MA—The Red Sox today acquired first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for first baseman Adam LaRoche and cash considerations.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Kotchman, 26, will wear No. 11.  He has hit .282 (84-for-298) with 20 doubles, six home runs, 41 RBI, 28 runs scored and 32 walks in 87 games with the Braves this season. The left-handed hitter is batting .320 (24-for-75) and has posted a .427 on-base and .507 slugging percentage over 23 games in July.

Selected by Anaheim in the first round (13th overall) of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Kotchman has hit .272 (431-for-1,587) with 98 doubles, 39 home runs and 226 RBI in 481 career Major League games with the Angels (2004-08) and Braves (2008-09).  Kotchman’s career .998 fielding percentage at first base is the highest in baseball history among players with at least 3,500 total chances at that position.  He has played 156 consecutive games (149 starts) since he committed his last error on June 20, 2008, a span of 1,379 total chances.

Kotchman has appeared in eight postseason games with the Angels (2004, 2005 and 2007), going 2-for-15 with a double and an RBI.

LaRoche, 29, was acquired by the Red Sox on July 22 from the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He hit .263 (5-for-19) with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in six games with the Red Sox.  The left-handed hitter went 80-for-324 (.247) with 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 87 games for the Pirates this season.  Selected by Atlanta in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, LaRoche owns a .269 batting average with 124 homers and 429 RBI in 781 Major League games with the Braves (2004-06), Pirates (2007-09) and Red Sox (2009).

According to Yahoo’s Gorden Edes, Adam LaRoche has been shipped to Atlanta.  NESN reported that the Red Sox have acquired 1B Casey Kotchman in exchange for LaRoche.

Kotchman was hitting .282 with 6 home runs and 41 RBI for the Braves.

According to SI’s Jon Heyman, the Atlanta Braves are interested in former employee Adam LaRoche if the Red Sox land Victor Martinez. The newly acquired first baseman would likely be the odd man out if the blockbuster deal goes through

LaRoche played three seasons for the Braves before playing for Pittsburgh.

Adam LaRoche, like any player going from a cellar-dwellar to a perennial championship contender, couldn’t be happier to be wearing a Red Sox uniform.

He met with the media prior to his first official game with his new team following Wednesday’s trade that sent him from Pittsburgh to Boston for minor leaguers Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland.

After acknowledging his appreciation to Red Sox management for bringing him to Boston, he said there’s only one really tough adjustment.

“The hardest part this year is leaving my little brother,” the 29-year-old LaRoche said of his 25-year-old brother Andy with the Pirates.

LaRoche got his chance to play with baby bro when the Dodgers traded Andy to the Pirates last season.

But quickly, both LaRoches learned that all the brotherly love in the world won’t turn them into the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

“I got a chance to play with him for a year,” Adam said. “It’s something that I can never replace. Obviously, we would have love to have done that for the next 10 years but not on a losing club.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Red Sox are well aware of the depth of their offensive slump. The team’s lineup has been in a pronounced rut in July, and so it would be natural to conclude that the Sox acquired Adam LaRoche in part to address the lineup struggles.

Yet it would be inaccurate, according to Sox G.M. Theo Epstein, to draw such a conclusion. The Sox did feel that it was necessary to improve their lineup against right-handed pitching (something that the left-handed LaRoche is likely to help them with), and the team did want to add to its corner infield depth both as a hedge against injury and to make it easier to rest third baseman Mike Lowell. But while Epstein acknowledged his club’s offensive struggles of late, he also suggested that this move was not made as a desperate reaction to a relatively brief offensive struggle, or to a stumble in the second half that has seen the Sox go from three games up in the A.L. East to one game back.

“This move we made today is not in the least bit a reaction…When we sat down to assess where we were at the All-Star break…the way we assessed it was we were basically dead even in a three-way race. That’s how talented the other three teams were. If you look at underlying performance, there’s virtually nothing to separate the three club,” Epstein said in a conference call. “I think we’re a good offensive club having a horrific month. When you go through slumps like this — and we’re in a pretty bad team-wide slump; we only have one or two players performing to career norms this month; as a club, I think we’re hitting around .220, .225 this month, so it’s a bad slump — anytime you go through slumps like this, 1) It’s important to assess any areas you can improve without overreacting, and 2) to put it in perspective, to realize that it’s not a good time to make a through assessment of the club when you’re in the middle of the slump.

“I think we’re realistic about where we are offensively. We have the potential to be really, really good. Right now, I think we’re around fourth in the league in runs scored. We have the potential to be a little better than that, but right now, we’re not the most prolific offensive club in Red Sox history. I think we score plenty of runs. We have the ability to be dangerous against both right- and left-handed pitching. I think we got a little more dangerous against right-handed pitching today. We certainly have the ability to score enough runs to get where we want to go, when you combine it with the run prevention attributes this club has.”

Some other insights from the conference call:

–LaRoche is expected to join the Sox in Boston on Friday. The team will make a corresponding move to free a space on its 25-man major-league roster at that time.

–The Sox felt that now was the time to build their corner infield depth, particularly in a fashion that would strengthen the team against right-handed pitching, since it is easier to do so before the July 31 deadline for trades not requiring waivers than it is after.

–The LaRoche trade was about achieving insurance. The Sox remain open to “a second kind of trade,” according to Epstein, pursuing an “impact” player. Even so, there are no guarantees that such a deal can be consummated at a cost the club views as acceptable.

“There’s a second category of player we’re also going to pursue, where the player can make significant impact on the roster,” said Epstein. “Those trades are hard to make…That doesn’t mean you don’t pursue them.”

–The deal was possible because the prospect cost (shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-handed pitcher Hunter Strickland) to the Sox was reasonable (indeed, in some ways, it appeared minimal).

“We’ve been in the market for a player who can do some damage against right-handed pitching and who can help our club’s depth at the corner infield. We’ve checked in on a number of players who fit that category and found that, by a large, large margin, the Pirates had the most reasonable acquisition cost,” said Epstein. “This was the chance to get at a very reasonable acquisition cost a player that we think will help our club, help against right-handed pitching, add to our depth and leave us in a position to continue to look for more impact before the end of the trading deadline…It was a relatively reasonable acquisition cost in terms of prospect inventory.”

–Much of the deal had to do with the club’s desire to give Mike Lowell more rest in the second half. Lowell, who underwent hip surgery last October, might not be at full speed and agility until next season. He stands to benefit from more rest.

“Mike has worked remarkably hard to put himself in position to play major-league games and to help the club. I think he is helping the club,” said Epstein. “(But) it’s clear to those watching the games that he’s not moving around as well as he would like.”

–LaRoche has historically enjoyed huge second halves. The Red Sox would be delighted if he continues that trend, but they do not believe that his history of post-All-Star-break performances is a guarantee of future success during the final months of the year.

“The big second half numbers are nice. I don’t think we go so far as to say they’re definitely predictive,” said Epstein. “It does provide some reason for optimism. Despite the fact that it might not necessarily be predictive, you can’t deny the monster second halves this guy has had…If things fall into place, the trend continues, and we do get the big second half, we would certainly benefit from that.”

–The Sox are hopeful that LaRoche’s swing will play well at Fenway. Epstein said that LaRoche’s best, natural swing is driving the ball to left-center and center, but that he became somewhat pull-happy in PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

–There’s a chance LaRoche could qualify for Type B free-agent status (even though he does not currently), something that could net the Sox a draft pick following the season should they choose to offer LaRoche arbitration prior to his potential departure as a free agent. But Epstein said that was not a major factor in the move, which was made mostly to improve the 2009 Red Sox.

The Red Sox just sent out the following press release announcing the deal that brought Adam LaRoche to Boston in exchange for minor leaguers Hunter Strickland and Argenis Diaz (for the Pirates release, which includes quotes from Pittsburgh G.M. Neal Huntington on Diaz and Strickland, click here):

BOSTON, MA—The Red Sox today acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-handed pitcher Hunter Strickland.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

LaRoche, 29, is batting .247 (80-for-324) with 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 87 games for the Pirates this season. He ranks seventh in the National League with a .338 (54-for-160) average at home. Among current members of the Red Sox, only Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis (each with 42) have more extra-base hits than LaRoche’s 38, 27 of which have come at PNC Park . The left-handed hitter has committed just one error in 836 total chances and ranks second among N.L. first basemen with a .999 fielding percentage.

He has reached double digits in home runs in each of his six Major League seasons, including a career-high 32 for Atlanta in 2006. Since 2004, only six other N.L. lefties have more round trippers. Overall, LaRoche owns a .269 career batting average with 123 homers and 426 RBI in 775 games with the Braves (2004-06) and Pirates (2007-09).

The former first-round draft pick has posted second-half OPS of .941 since 2006, 12th in the N.L. during that span. He has belted 10 of his 12 home runs off right-handers this season and owns an .866 OPS against righties since the start of the 2006 campaign. He has appeared in eight career post-season games, going 8-for-25 (.320) with two homers and 10 RBI.

Diaz, 22, hit .253 (70-for-277) with 24 RBI in 76 games at Double-A Portland this season. Originally signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent in July 2003, he is a career .268 hitter with four home runs and 127 RBI in six seasons in Boston ’s farm system.

Strickland, Boston ’s 19th selection (18th round) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, was 5-4 with one save and a 3.35 ERA (31 ER/83.1 IP) in 18 appearances/12 starts for Single-A Greenville . In three professional seasons in the Red Sox organization, the 20-year-old posted a 10-9 record with one save and a 3.66 ERA.

The Red Sox also promoted shortstop Yamaico Navarro from Single-A Salem to Double-A Portland today. He hit .319 (30-for-94) with four homers and 17 RBI over 23 games with Boston ’s Carolina League affiliate this season.

WEEI.com has confirmed that the Red Sox and Pirates are close to finalizing a deal that would send first baseman Adam LaRoche of the Pittsburgh Pirates to Boston in exchange for two minor leaguers. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was the first to report the news.

LaRoche is a power-hitting first baseman who has averaged 24.5 homers over the past four seasons with the Braves and Pirates. He is hitting .247 with a .329 OBP and .441 slugging mark for the Pirates this year, down from career totals of .269/.338/.486.

According to multiple baseball sources, the Pirates will receive shortstop Argenis Diaz and pitcher Hunter Strickland when the deal is finalized. Diaz is known as a gifted defensive player with incredible tools, but there are questions about his bat, and his defensive focus has at times come into question, resulting in high error totals (he has committed 18 errors this year).

The 22-year-old Diaz is hitting .253/.309/.310 with Double-A Portland this year. He has not hit any homers this year. After he got off to a terrific start in April (hitting .289 with a .769 OPS), he hit .246 with month-by-month OPS totals of .587 in May, .609 in June and .567 in July. His ceiling is considered that of a major-league backup infielder, but for him to achieve that status, he would have to show greater consistency in the field. Diaz was added to the 40-man roster following the 2007 season. Pirates G.M. Neal Huntington had this to say about Diaz in the Pirates’ official press release announcing the deal:

“Diaz is an intriguing shortstop prospect who projects to play above-average defense with soft hands, good first step quickness and an above average throwing arm,” said Huntington. “He is developing on the offensive side of the baseball, but Argenis quickly becomes the best defensive shortstop prospect in our system.”

Strickland, an 18th round pick in 2007, is 5-4 with a 3.35 ERA for the Greenville Drive of the Single-A South Atlantic League this year. The 6-foot-5 20-year-old has shown excellent command for the Drive, with a 51-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 83.1 innings this year.

He shows advanced command for his age of a fastball that is in the vicinity of 90 mph, and his frame suggests the possibility of a future uptick in velocity as he fills out. He also has a decent changeup, but he has yet to show a consistent breaking ball that he can use as a complementary pitch. His development of that pitch will, in all likelihood, determine the quality of the Pirates’ return in this deal (aside from the salary relief they will achieve by moving LaRoche). This is what Huntington had to say in the Pirates’ press release:

“Strickland is a young developing right-handed starting pitching prospect with a good frame, solid delivery, clean arm action and an interesting pitch arsenal,” said Huntington. “He is a quality strike thrower with a fastball that has averaged as high as 93 miles per hour, with the potential for a major league caliber breaking ball and changeup to complement his fastball.”

LaRoche is eligible for free agency following this season. He is playing on a one-year, $7.05 million deal in 2009, his last as an arbitration-eligible player. His brother, Andy, was part of the three-team deal that sent Jason Bay to Boston and Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles last July 31.

The first baseman has struggled of late, hitting .138/.167/.241 in July. Throughout his career, however, he has been a significantly better hitter following the All-Star break, with a career second-half line of .296/.357/.544 and a .901 OPS, compared to first-half marks of .252/.326/.447/.773.

Because Diaz was on Boston’s 40-man roster, LaRoche will be able to take his spot. It remains to be seen, however, how the Sox will clear a spot on their 25-man major-league roster for LaRoche.

Hunter Strickland went 5-4 with one save and a 3.35 ERA (83.1ip/31er) in 18 appearances (12 starts) this year for the Single-A Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League. The 20-year-old Strickland entered the season with a career record of 5-5 and 3.94 ERA (96.0ip/42er) in 24 games (16 starts) since being selected by the Red Sox in the 18th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Last year with Single-A Lowell of the New York-Penn League, Strickland posted a 3.18 ERA (70.2ip/25er) in 15 games (10 starts), which ranked fifth among all Red Sox minor leaguers. Strickland finished the season by posting a 0.43 ERA (20.2ip/1er) in his last four starts.

“Strickland is a young developing right-handed starting pitching prospect with a good frame, solid delivery, clean arm action and an interesting pitch arsenal,” said Huntington. “He is a quality strike thrower with a fastball that has averaged as high as 93 miles per hour, with the potential for a major league caliber breaking ball and changeup to complement his fastball.”

Though there had been reports that the Pirates would send money to the Red Sox to cover part of the remaining $2.95 million of LaRoche’s salary this year, Kovacevic reports that no money will move from Pittsburgh to Boston.