Behind The Box Score

The Red Sox acquired a key ingredient today to their lineup, getting the Pirates Adam LaRoche while giving up two minor league prospects in shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-hander Hunter Strickland. The trade helps the Red Sox get some needed depth at first base. With LaRoche, they can rest Mike Lowell more often, giving him a chance to nurse his repaired right hip. He was reactivated from the DL on July 17, and for the season is hitting .289 with 10 HRs and 42 RBI. “We want to create as much depth and redundancy as we possibly can, because if you don’t address depth before July 31 — or in some cases in August — then you’re left without an opportunity to do so down the stretch and into what we hope will be another postseason,” Epstein said before the trade.

On the other side of the trade, the lowly Pirates get two minor league prospects that are solid. The first, Argenis Diaz, is a defensive workhorse, and is hitting .253 with 0 HRs and 24 RBI, adding 7 stolen bases in with the process for AA-Portland. Second, Hunter Strickland, is a pickup from the 2007 First Year Player Draft, and is 5-4 with a 3.35 ERA for A-Greenville.