Good luck to LaRoche. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious. I could see a rotating DH spot for now.

I hope it's that he just doesn't want to play anymore and not something more serious.

 

Agreed. Hopefully it is just a scenario where he is burnt out and wants to be done, and nothing more ugly.

 

My guess would be if it were injury related, they would have just said that.

 

Personal issues could be almost anything, none of which are good, and I feel dirty speculating about what they could be.

 

Maybe he just doesn't want to play anymore and doesn't have that "fire" he once had. I don't think it is anything bad

I was shocked to hear this news this morning. I had a thought that something was happening with Laroche, but felt it might be the back injury keeping him out longer than expected. I was looking forward to seeing him in action for 2016. Now, as we all do I am sure, I just hope he and his family are ok. Bseball can come second, but I have tremendous respect for a man that handle things the way he is and has done

Wow.

 

First reaction is I hope he and his family are OK.

 

Second reaction is we have $13M to spend.

 

This. Has to be physical since it came suddenly when he was optimistic earlier.

Wow, crazy news. We'll gladly take the $13M in savings.

 

I'd rather have a #4 starter than Bruce.

 

Rabbit mentioned going after Coghlan on Twitter. .271/.345/.449 over past 3 seasons against RHP. Should be relatively cheap to acquire.

Good luck to LaRoche. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious. I could see a rotating DH spot for now.

The rotating DH is something I wanted the Sox to try before they got LaRoche, but now that we're in win mode, I'm not sure we have the players to make it work. Think we have to make a move (which wouldn't necessarily preclude the rotating DH, anyway).

Wow, crazy news. We'll gladly take the $13M in savings.

 

I'd rather have a #4 starter than Bruce.

There's none available right now though.

If he sticks to his retirement, I'll be surprised if Bruce isn't traded for.

 

God no unless its for a song.

Frazier will provide able back up at first, with Lawrie shifting to 3B on those days...problem solved.

 

I too would like to see another starter and then keep trolling for cost effective rebound candidates. Acquisition of Jackson perhaps creates redundancy, but I always wanted the WSox to explore the still under 30 year old Jennings from Tampa as an option. One of the better defense outfielders in the game and he can run and hit for modest pop.

I guess it's Eaton to open the season as DH. And once he's healthy that role will be a rotation between Abreu, Garcia and Melky

There's none available right now though.

 

Not in free agency, at least. I'm wondering if there's a back-of-the-rotation vet that a rebuilding team is looking to move.

 

I think the answer to the question of who replaces him is pretty obvious. Hahn needs to get on the phone and see what the Big Donkey is up to these days.

Edited March 15, 201610 yr by lasttriptotulsa

If this was a week sooner we could have signed Alvarez to DH. D'oh!

With my belief of the Sox possibly being short a bat before but even more so now. Your big bats are Abreu/Frazier, then lawrie. After that you got Melky and eaton. Hoping avi gets better offensively and Rollins can play fully really makes the Sox offense worrisome. They really need to get another bat and probably more so being lefty.

I mean, if you're talking about another starting pitcher... *points to signature*

 

But I'll argue it makes little sense to prioritize a pitcher over a hitter. The team needed the latter more before this news. There are five guys penciled with thick strokes into the rotation whether you like it or not, and two realistic options for backups.

 

It's also possible nothing will happen, as it's just too late. Was only the DH spot, after all.

He's made $73 million in just salary in his baseball career, I am not sure money played any part at all in his decision.

I may be a minority of this but I think this creates somewhat of a hole. Was expecting LaRoche to bounce back somewhat this year, maybe like a .230/320/430 with 15-20 HR. 13M freed up is obviously awesome but I think we definitely need to get another hitter whether it's Morneau or someone else thru a trade.Can't go into the season with Avi as our DH IMO. Sign Morneau to a 3M deal and if he doesn't work out we still got $$ to play with at the deadline.

Rabbit mentioned going after Coghlan on Twitter. .271/.345/.449 over past 3 seasons against RHP. Should be relatively cheap to acquire.

 

Idk I think A's are going to use Coghlan in a Zobrist role.

Maybe he just doesn't want to play anymore and doesn't have that "fire" he once had. I don't think it is anything bad

That's what I guess too. Anyway, best wishes for him.

 

With my belief of the Sox possibly being short a bat before but even more so now. Your big bats are Abreu/Frazier, then lawrie. After that you got Melky and eaton. Hoping avi gets better offensively and Rollins can play fully really makes the Sox offense worrisome. They really need to get another bat and probably more so being lefty.

 

Realistically, I thought that LaRoche would be good for about a .700 OPS this season. While I agree that we could use another bat, it's not like losing LaRoche cripples our offense. Avi could probably put up a .700 OPS.

 

Is there any package of players that doesn't involve Anderson or Fulmer or anyone on the current projected 25 that could get Carlos Gonzalez? I'm thinking no.

 

 

WOW. I hope he is alright and that his family is all right. He has been somewhat MIA in spring training after his "injury."

 

As a gamer would say.... "GGs Adam."

I think the answer to the question of who replaces him is pretty obvious. Hahn needs to get on the phone and see what the Big Donkey is up to these days.

Probably 325-350