Adam Laroche -- First baseman headed to BoSox from Pirates

Considering the lineup around him in Boston, expect to see LaRoche at home plate a lot more.
First baseman Adam Laroche will be headed to the Boston Red Sox, part of a deal that sees pitcher Hunter Strickland and shortstop Argenis Diaz bound for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

LaRoche has a reputation for being much stronger post-All Star break, so we'll see if the BoSox can pick up some of that second half magic.

From an article at the Boston Globe:
The Red Sox have acquired lefthanded-hitting first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a pair of prospects.

The trade was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic. The Globe's Amalie Benjamin has confirmed that the Sox will send Portland shortstop Argenis Diaz and Greenville righthander Hunter Strickland to the Pirates in return for LaRoche.

Diaz, a smooth-fielding shortstop, was batting .253 for the Double A Sea Dogs. Strickland, 20, was an 18th-round pick in the 2007 draft.

LaRoche, a 29-year-old six-year veteran, is an intriguing pickup for the Red Sox, who have struggled against righthanded pitching this season.

LaRoche is batting .247 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs this season, but he has never had a full-season adjusted OPS below 100, and he's one of the most notorious second-half hitters in baseball. His career OPS after the All-Star break is .901.

It has yet to be determined where LaRoche fits in on Boston's 25-man roster.