For the first time since he broke into the majors three years ago, Adam LaRoche will open the season as an everyday player -- something that should bring out the best in him.
On Friday, the Pirates announced their trade with the Atlanta Braves for LaRoche and minor-league outfielder Jamie Romak. In return, Atlanta got closer Mike Gonzalez and minor-league shortstop Brent Lillibridge.
"I'm really excited about being here," said LaRoche, who made an overnight stop in Pittsburgh for brief meetings with front office officials at PNC Park.
News of the trade broke Wednesday, but both teams waited until all the players involved passed their physicals before making it official.
LaRoche, a first baseman, is the left-handed power bat the Pirates have been seeking. Manager Jim Tracy already has penciled LaRoche into the No. 4 spot in the lineup.
Last season, LaRoche finished with a .285 batting average and 32 home runs. He hit .323 with 19 homers after the All-Star break.
It's no coincidence LaRoche's late surge began when the Braves stopped platooning him against right-handed pitchers.
"I told them all along I'd like to play every day," LaRoche said. "When I got away from seeing left-handed pitchers for a couple of years, it threw me off."
Now that the trade is complete, the Pirates' next task is to get LaRoche's signature on a contract.
When arbitration figures were exchanged this past week, LaRoche's agent requested $3.7 million, and the Braves offered $2.8 million. LaRoche made $420,000 last season.
Also yesterday, the Pirates signed right-hander Shawn Chacon to a one-year, $3.825 million contract to avoid arbitration.
The deal includes incentives that would pay Chacon $50,000 for pitching 160 innings, $50,000 for 180 innings and $125,000 for 200 innings.
Chacon, 29, went 2-3 with a 5.48 ERA in nine starts for the Pirates this past season. He came to the Pirates in a deadline deal with the New York Yankees for first baseman Craig Wilson.
Overall this past season, Chacon, a six-year veteran, went 7-6 with a 6.36 ERA. He gave up two earned runs or fewer in five of his starts for the Pirates but had an ERA of 11.42 in the other four.
Chacon, once an All-Star with the Colorado Rockies, could enter spring training as the top candidate for the fifth spot in the Pirates' rotation, although general manager Dave Littlefield continues to court free agents.
When arbitration figures were exchanged, Chacon had asked for $4.25 million and the Pirates offered $3.7 million. He made $3.6 million last season.
