Larue to Royals for PTBNL

by cincyinco on Nov 20, 2006 4:19 PM EST

ROYALS ACQUIRE CATCHER JASON LaRUE FROM REDS
Kansas City Sends Minor League Player to be Named to Cincinnati

KANSAS CITY, MO (Nov. 20, 2006) - The Kansas City Royals have acquired catcher Jason LaRue from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a minor league player to be named, Royals Senior Vice President-Baseball Operations/General Manager Dayton Moore announced today.
LaRue, 32, has been considered one of the best throwing catchers in baseball since his debut with the Reds in 1999. In his eight seasons, he has thrown out 36.9 percent (143-for-388) of attempted base stealers, fourth-best in baseball over that span. In 2001, he led all Major League catchers with a 60.3 caught-stealing percentage. He has served as Cincinnati's primary catcher since the 2001 season and was the Reds longest tenured player prior to the trade.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound native of Houston, Texas, is a .239 hitter with 84 home runs, 303 RBI, 127 doubles and 263 runs scored in 715 career games. In 2006, LaRue underwent right knee surgery in spring training that forced him to miss the first two weeks of the regular season. He hit .194 (37-191) with eight home runs, 21 RBI and five doubles while playing in just 72 games, his fewest since playing 31 in 2000. Prior to 2006, LaRue was a consistent offensive performer for the Reds, recording at least 12 home runs, 17 doubles and 43 RBI for five straight seasons from 2001-2005.
LaRue best season came in 2005, when he hit a career-high .260 with 14 home runs and a career-high 60 RBI and 27 doubles. He combined with Javier Valentin that season to form the best offensive catching duo in the Majors. Since he earned the Reds starting catcher job in 2001, he has been hit by a pitch 87 times, tied for the sixth-most in baseball. He set a Cincinnati franchise record by being hit 24 times in 2004.
LaRue was originally a fifth-round selection of Cincinnati in the 1995 Draft after being named an All-American at Dallas Baptist University. He resides in Bulverde, Texas, with his wife, Heather, and sons, Tyler, Dylan and Brayden

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Apparently

no cash involved...

good move for the Reds if thats the case.

by cincyinco on Nov 20, 2006 4:16 PM EST reply actions

Hmmm

not exactly what i've heard.

Rotoworld reported that Cincy is likely to including some cash to cover his salary next year.

How is LaRue at calling a game? Is he a guy that could help improve a God awful pitching staff?

Overall, a pretty blah move.

by eazyb81 on Nov 20, 2006 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Rotoworld's take:

Royals acquired catcher Jason LaRue from the Reds for the player to be named.

Amazingly, it appears the Reds are getting out from under LaRue's $5.2 million commitment without paying any cash. We hope that at least means the Royals aren't giving up anyone significant. Either way, it's a good job by Reds GM Wayne Krivsky. We're guessing LaRue will rebound and have another year or two at his 2005 level of play, but he's not going to help the Royals contend now or in the future. The best Kansas City can hope for is that he plays well enough that they can get a superior prospect for him at the trade deadline. Nov. 20 - 4:43 pm et

by cincyinco on Nov 20, 2006 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

Just saw that....

they must have changed it from earlier, because I swear that they said the Reds were probably going to give some cash.

If this is purely a salary dump, I wouldn't expect the Reds to get anyone decent as the PTBNL.

by eazyb81 on Nov 20, 2006 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

Right

it was speculated earlier there might be cash going KC's way, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

I don't expect anyone great, I'm just happy to get out from under 5.2million and get something at all. Free's up a bit of cash for the Reds to do a bit more.

by cincyinco on Nov 20, 2006 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

LaRue

How is LaRue at calling a game? Is he a guy that can help a young pitching staff?

by eazyb81 on Nov 20, 2006 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

To be honest

I've never been a fan of Larue on any level. But others will tell you he's a solid defensive catcher. Makes some mental mistakes sometimes, but he's a great athlete behind the dish. And he has a good arm.

I think the initial reports about money are now right - it looks like some cash IS going KC's way...

Per Marc Lancaster's blog:

From Marc's blog:

LaRue clarification

The official release on the trade, put out by Kansas City, makes no mention of the Reds sending cash -- which is why I amended my original post.

However, Wayne Krivsky told me the Reds will indeed send money to help defray the $5.45 million LaRue is owed in 2007. Remember that he gets an extra $250,000 because he was traded after Oct. 15, 2006. Of course, Krivsky wouldn't say how much money is involved.

by cincyinco on Nov 20, 2006 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Buck

Speaks a bit to what they think about John Buck?

by FredUD on Nov 20, 2006 4:59 PM EST reply actions

LaRue sure can throw out...

the would be base stealers though. He calls a decent game and has a darn good glove but he swings at anything. When he gets ahold of the ball it goes far but that is a rare site. I'm not sorry to see him and his contract gone. 1 major mistake by Miley corrected. Now, if only that Milton contract wasn't there. Flyball pitcher in GAB...dumb.

by Havok1517 on Nov 20, 2006 6:02 PM EST reply actions

Update

Contrary to initial reports, the Reds are sending an undisclosed amount of cash to the Royals to cover a portion of Jason LaRue's salary, MLB.com reports.

That's better. It turns out that LaRue will actually earn $5.4 million next year because of a $200,000 trade bonus in his contract.
Source: Royals.mlb.com

by Havok1517 on Nov 20, 2006 6:39 PM EST reply actions