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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,246 comments Add your comment
BravesFanChris24
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
If this means Freddie Freeman maybe up next year, it’s a good deal. Plus it gives Braves extra cash, since LaRoche is a FA after this year.
Rob from SC
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
Bill Shanks said that the Braves would have considered non-tendering Kotchman in the off season. Not a happy camper in the clubhouse
The_Superhoo
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
Braves trade kotch to sox for Roach
Ugh. Way to go wren. Horrible move
chris from md
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
DOB,
I doubt you remember this, but I suggested this very trade a few weeks ago when LaRoche was a Pirate. You said the same thing you said today– no real improvement. But the potential power numbers make me like the move. I don’t love it but Rochy did hit 32 homeruns in ‘06. Kotchman’s high is what– 14? Surprised by the Kotchman love.
Chris from MD
Bravosss
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
John @ 3:56. I’m with ya, man! lol 2 mins…
nemov
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
I never liked LaRoche. I was happy when he left. The fact we just aquired him for Kotch tells me all I need to know about this lineup.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 31st, 2009
3:58 pm
ok just got back from the bathroom…
I took my A-D-D pills…
What happened???
lol….8O
Renegator
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
This deal makes ABSOLUTELY no sense unless Kotchman was in Donk’s doghouse.
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
“You traded them for a reason”
To acquire a player mostly. Sometimes, as in the case of Ryan Church’s exit from NY, it was to remove a player.
I don’t think Adam was ever traded by the Braves so the team could get rid of him. He was traded at his peak value. After the best season he’d had in his career. In return the Braves got what was, at the time, a hard throwing left-handed closer on a saves streak to shore up what was, at the time, one of the worst bullpens in the majors.
Chop Chop
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
At least Roachy is a good right-handed bat.
Oh.
Cactus Jack
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
ROACHY!!!!!!!
jeffrey d
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
So we just downgraded defensively, added a question mark offensively, and added about $4 million in salary? Awesome.
richbrave
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
tmac:
Couldn’t disagree more.
timthebrave
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
I’m pissed. What a terrible deal
Andrew in CT
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
How is Roachy’s ADD these days? There better be a two month prescription of adderall coming back from Boston
Jeff321
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
I don’t like this LaRoche trade one bit.
Rob from SC
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
Wow mlb network says Yankees gave up Austin Jackson for Hairston. What a amazing trade for the Reds
OklahomaBrave
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
Bravooss, like I said I think he has been tremendous at 1st. If you wan’t me to I will say he’s the best defensive player to ever lace em up. Just confused sometimes.
18 WOL
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
I don’t agree with the move.
JasonInFL
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
don’t understand this move at all. but, luckily for the braves, frank wren is a heck of a lot smarter than i am.
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
So we traded Adam LaRoche and Brett Lillibridge for Mike Gonzalez and then traded Brett Lillibridge for Javy Vazquez and then swapped Casey Kotchman for LaRoche.
So we traded Lillibridge and Kotchman for Gonzo and Vazquez? Cool.
(Yes, I know it’s more complicated than that, but still …)
Tavis
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
DOB or Carroll, is there a clubhouse reason behind this move. I know Chipper and McClouth loves LaRoche, but was there an issue with Kotchman? Did he ever fit in this clubhouse setting?
Does this move open up (or prove the ease of) Freeman at 1B and Heyward at RF?
This is a very unique move that’s for sure.
JerseyBraves
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
so, now we have just traded for a guy who is not a very good 1b, isn’t hitting over .250, just so we could get 7 more home runs and 2 LESS RBIs. No improvement, so why make this deal?
VaBraveFan
July 31st, 2009
3:59 pm
LaRoach might play better since its a fresh start back with his original team. He will supply more power than Kotchman but our defense will be worse….. Kinda confusing how it was st8 up we could have got a prospect as well or somthing, Kotchman is under team control for 2 more years…… And Kotchman has been playing great
nemov
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
everyone is baffled about this – http://www.nesn.com/video.html?videoId=6542
wheelz007
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Have no clue why we made this deal.
No idea!
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Wren’s got one minute to flip LoChoke for Ryan Braun.
I think he can do it.
Cheese
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Noooooo! not Kotchman!!!!!
Chris from the Rock
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
I know this is off the subject, but has anyone noticed what Nunez is doing in AAA? His ERA is around 2.00. Time to call him up.
Lunatic Fringe
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
With all these trades going down, I bet there will be a lot of empty benches tonight!
I also am not agreeing with the LaRoche for CK straight up. Not much upgrade if any. The only reason I can see is to free up money for next year.
dmack2027
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
How does that move make sense at all for the Braves, if they did not get any prospects back?
Laroche is a free agent after this year. Kotch is cheaper, and under control for several more years.
Heath
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
To me, LaRoche back to ATL is not a Wren move..that is a Bobby move.
KotchWatch
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Braves flip LaRoche, Cole Rohrbough and Jordan Schafer to Cincinatti for Joey Votto? Seriously, Votto is the centerpiece of the Reds team. On the Vazquez to Boston rumor or made up romor, hogwash.
Real Deal
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Just saw on MLB Network that the Braves sent Mike Gonzalez and James Parr to the Brewers for JJ Hardy.
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Damn. It’s too late.
John
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Trade good or bad ? Very close…deciding factor…who is faster?? I gotta go with… Tha Roach…
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Larouche has q split personality and cant hit inside fastballs, he can’t go oppo. field and he is a downgrade defensively plus he is pricey. Ijust don’t get the reason for doing this unless it is to make Chipper and B-Mac happy!
DAP
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
kotchman for laroche doesnt make sense for either team. that cant be it.
BravesFanChris24
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
2:56pm: FOX Sports says the Blue Jays will get Edwin Encarnacion and a minor leaguer. Rolen is expected to approve the deal.
ChurchMan
July 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
Maybe LaRoche will be a slight upgrade on offense, hard to tell right now. He’s a Brave now, so we have to hope for the best
ship-builder1
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Laroche is not an upgrade at anything when you have Kot. hitting like the way he has latly and you cant get anybetter than Kot. on Defense
Mitchie-san
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Well theres our new clean up hitter…
bravos2249
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Did the Braves really just trade for LaRoche…..!!!!!!!
TDub
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Thirty minutes ago my universe was in perfect order.
OklahomaBrave
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Wren knows what he’s doing. Probably a squash either way you look at it. He comes off the books at years end and frees up more payroll.
FaninFaytown
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
It makes more sense if, indeed, Kotch was not a good clubhouse guy but I guess thats a little surprising to me. Still hope the Sox pick up some of that contract.
David O'Brien
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
By David O’Brien
dobrien@ajc.com
A trade-deadline surprise: Adam LaRoche is back with the Braves.
The Braves traded for their once-and-again first baseman on Friday, opening a spot for him by sending Casey Kotchman to Boston in a swap of smooth-fielding first basemen that gives the Braves improved power at that position.
LaRoche, who’s eligible for free agency after this season, has hit a career-low .248 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 93 games, including 87 games for Pittsburgh before being traded to the Red Sox on July 22 for two minor-league prospects.
Kotchman has been on a hot streak lately that’s raised his average to .282 with 41 RBIs, but he still has only six homers, and Braves first basemen are tied for last in the National League with seven homers. Their .401 slugging percentage is better than only Arizona’s first basemen (.390).
In LaRoche, the Braves get a slick-fielding left-hander who came up in the Braves organization and played his first three seasons for Atlanta from 2004 to 2006. His best season was 2006, when he hit .285 with 32 homers, 90 RBIs and a .915 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
LaRoche, 29, has hit 20 or more homers in four consecutive seasons, and totaled 46 homers with 173 RBIs for the Pirates during the 2007-2008 seasons. He’s making $7.05 million and is eligible for free agency once more before potential free agency after the 2010 season.
The Braves brought up Barbaro Canizares from Class AAA Gwinnett to play first base in Friday night’s series opener against the Dodgers.
VP
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Halladay to the Angels according to Jayson Stark.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
dmack2027
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
This after trading Tex for Kotch, the reason being we have a cheap first baseman under control for several years to bridge the gap to Freeman.
Wren in Doubt
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
Horrible. Simply horrible.
richbrave
July 31st, 2009
4:01 pm
LaROCHE hit 32 homers while highly sedated. His ADD disorder really limits his natural talent severely.
Drew
July 31st, 2009
4:02 pm
LaRoche is loved in every clubhouse. I don’t get this from a pure stat acquisition but as a clubhouse/comoradory I do understand it. He does put up good numbers in the 2nd half but we’ll see if that happens again. A little more power but definitely more K’s and I swear I may break something if I have to see him go through another “weak groundball to 2nd” streak again.
Cactus Jack
July 31st, 2009
4:02 pm
Frank needs to DFA Norton and Keep Barbaro on the team
Doug
July 31st, 2009
4:02 pm
Other than home runs, what is LaRoche better than Kotchman at? What happened to “standing pat”?
I guess we’ll see a lot of Martinez at catcher and Kotchman at first for the Red Sox. They sure have had a good day.
ChurchMan
July 31st, 2009
4:02 pm
Heath
To me, LaRoche back to ATL is not a Wren move..that is a Bobby move
–
I would at least hope Wren had most of the input in the deal. Otherwise what’s the point of having him in that position if Bobby is going to be doing most of the work anways?
timthebrave
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
WHY???? The Braves actually are willing to pay more money to get worse at fielding and worse at hitting. This is so we can have Norton play first base isn’t it?
John
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
So…we’ll have Barbarino Canizares at 1B tonight ??
Jeff321
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
Bill Shanks said that the Braves would have considered non-tendering Kotchman in the off season. Not a happy camper in the clubhouse
Translation: – This one has Bobby Cox written all over it. Only problem is, WTF does clubhouse etiquette have to do with winning the World Series?
AlabamaBrave
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
Marlins got Nick Johnson apparently.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9875596
Original Jon
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
No, its more like we traded Mark Teixeira for Adam LaRoche.
Josh
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
The Braves just traded Casey Kotchman straight up for Adam LaRoache. Frank Wren is an idiot.
KotchWatch
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
I have touted the job Wren has done but this makes ZERO sense. ZERO.
jay
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
LaRoche is definitely a better hitter than Kotchman, and I say that as a pretty big Kotchman fan. And here’s a thought: get Chipper’s mediocre glove away from 3B; Chipper is next year’s firstbaseman. And the year after, until Freeman is ready (if Freeman is ready; no prospect is ever a sure thing).
Marc from FL
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
There’s more to baseball than homeruns, and Lorache doesn’t even do that part well for a 1B. This trade is officially *almost* as bad as Tex to the Angels for Kotchman and a failed reliever prospect (note I said “almost”).
MFin04
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
LaRoche has more power, can hit 4th or 5th in the lineup. Should get some good pitches to hit batting 4th between Chipper and McCann.
Kotchman was never going to be what the Braves needed at first and was SLOW AS HELL. That can’t be understated.
Hope he doesn’t get screwed out of a gold glove though…the man has been great at first.
Dumbfound
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
Halladay going to the Los Angelos Angels !
Epinephrine
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
How do people not love this move?
1) LaRoche is = to Kotchman on defense. Don’t give me the crap about the errors. It’s easy not to make errors when you have the range of a flagpole. He gets the ones hit straight at him? Nice. What else?
2) LaRoche is superior to Kotchman offensively. Quoting LaRoche’s stats from this year in comparison, rather than his career numbers, is absurd. How many RBIs do you think Kotch would have put up in the Pirates lineup? A whole lot of protection there, let me tell you. Of course Kotch has more RBIs this year-he hits behind Esco, Mac, Chipper, GA, and Prado. Shocking, really. Anyone want to venture what Kotchman’s numbers would be if he hit cleanup for the Pirates?
3) LaRoche is a torrid second half hitter, which makes it even crazier to compare their stats from this year.
4) LaRoche fits in extremely well with this clubhouse, already being good friends with Chipper, Mac, and McLouth. Kotchman only spoke to freaking GA for crying out loud.
5) Yes LaRoche is more expensive, but so what? The Braves are spending the money, not you. And it’s not like this is a long term deal-or if it is, it will be restructured. This is all til Freeman arrives anyway.
So again, how do people NOT like this move?
keylargo
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
I guess all you Norton lovers are happy now. He’ll get the start at 1B tonight>>>>
Bravosss
July 31st, 2009
4:03 pm
Gotcha OKBrave, thanks for explaining and you may have a point about the confusion….
Sam The Man
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
Kotch was a bust. You can’t have a guy at 1st base with no power. A double here and there just won’t cut it.
From the sound of things, Kotch wasn’t going to be here next year so why not beef up the offense this year. LaRoche can definitely give it a ride.
Everyone is reacting like Kotch was a stud or something…I don’t get it.
This sounds like a very solid trade to me. Good job Wren!
The Bird and Indian
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
Marlins got Nick
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
So long Crotchmen
Edward( Bobby Retires after 2009 or Bust )
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
If any of you actually think that Kotchman is on the same level as LaRoche you need your head examined. This is a good upgrade and will do wonders for clubhouse morale.
Rob from SC
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
Maybe the players wanted Kotchman gone.
Chopper2Chipper
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
The Sox can use Kotch as a late inning defensive replacement for V-Mart.
THWG
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
So where’s LaRoche gonna hit?
Nova Scotia Steve
July 31st, 2009
4:04 pm
ok ok ok wait…where is the “KOTCHMAN IS KILLING US” fanclub???
indianabravesfan
July 31st, 2009
4:05 pm
LaRoche sucks, a horrible trade. Kotchman is the better player and Wren is a moron!!!!
VP
July 31st, 2009
4:05 pm
Kanizarres and not Norton at 1B tonight.
bravos2249
July 31st, 2009
4:05 pm
It’s amazing how we ended up with LaRoche, Vazquez and Gonzo…for like 3 players….
Well there goes Casey’s GG attempt.
Are we now the Pirates of the South?
I mean Gonzo, McLouth, LaRoche
AlabamaBrave
July 31st, 2009
4:05 pm
DOB, does that mean Norton will be DFA?
BravesFanChris24
July 31st, 2009
4:05 pm
I like this deal.
As much as I like Kotchman, him being traded is good because that leaves spare cash next season because obviously LaRoche is free agent.
For the ones clamoring for Kotchman to leave because “Kotchman kills us”, kidding or not, no need to back track.
Then another reason, Freddie Freeman stays in organization. And if he is as good as people claim, then maybe he’ll be up next year. If that’s the case, why not acquire someone with more power than Kotchman (especially in second half) and if it’s true that Kotchman was having clubhouse issues, then another good reason.
As far as the “chemistry” argument.
LaRoche is good friends with Chipper and McLouth. Seems to me that’s good chemistry there.
richbrave
July 31st, 2009
4:06 pm
HEATH:
I’m with you. I smell a rat.
tommy hanson fan
July 31st, 2009
4:06 pm
LaRoche just traded to ELI LILLY for better ADD drugs
P-Town Brave
July 31st, 2009
4:06 pm
Am I the only one who just really does not get this trade AT ALL?!
I mean…WOW! What else is there to say really?!
Boonie27
July 31st, 2009
4:06 pm
We better have gotten money in the LaRoche deal!!!!
BravesFanChris24
July 31st, 2009
4:06 pm
Marlins Acquired Nick Johnson
3:00pm: A 180 in this rumor – FOX now says the Marlins acquired Johnson for Double A lefty Aaron Thompson, with the Nats paying Johnson’s remaining salary.
MLBTR
LT-A blogger
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
This trade is not that big of a deal. Interesting to see if it winds up opening a hole next year, i.e. not resigning Roachy and/or Freeman not being ready.
My question is: who is officially slowest on the team now?
ChurchMan
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
Johnson for a Double A pitcher AND the Nats are paying his salary.
See the Braves need not worry about paying players they trade for this year if teams can get the other team to pay the rest of his salary
DAP
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
im stunned.
Noah
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
can anyone verify Kotchman wasn’t happy in the clubhouse? Why?
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
Oh well, I will root for my team (Braves) regardless, even if LaDouche is on it!
Patrick
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
THE BRAVES HAVE OFFICIALLY LOST THEIR MINDS!!! KOTCHMAN FOR LAROCHE????? THATS A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TRADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sean Millar
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
I just heard the Braves traded Kotchman to Boston for LaRoche.
jeffrey d
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
ok ok ok wait…where is the “KOTCHMAN IS KILLING US” fanclub???
They died.
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
LaRoche is a free agent at the end of the year, no? Will he even qualify as a type B player?
Heath
July 31st, 2009
4:08 pm
Drew -
I think this is as much about potential and team chemistry as anything. Chipper and LaRoche remained good friends in the past years and LaRoche and McLouth apparently became good friends in Pittsburgh. If LaRoche plays to his potential in the second half of this year and if this makes Chipper and McLouth happier too, it could end up being a good deal. LaRoche is not that big of a defensive downgrade, so, they are mostly equal there….higher HR/RBI potential, lower average though.
tommy hanson fan
July 31st, 2009
4:08 pm
I am a tremendous tool
gibbs
July 31st, 2009
4:08 pm
Braves get Adam Laroche for Kotchman in trade with Red Sox??? Interesting….