Casey Kotchman Sent to Red Sox

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ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves traded Adam LaRoche to the Boston Red Sox for Casey Kotchman in a swap of first basemen on Friday.

The Braves also receive cash in the deal completed before the 4 p.m. deadline to make trades without waivers.

LaRoche, who played in Atlanta from 2004-06, was traded for the second time this month. He was dealt from Pittsburgh to Boston for two minor league players on July 22.

Kotchman was traded almost exactly one year after he was acquired by the Braves from the Los Angeles Angels for Mark Teixeira.

“You’ve been traded already so you’re a little more used to it,” Kotchman said. “I’m a little surprised but not overwhelmingly surprised.”

Kotchman is hitting .282 with six homers and 41 RBIs and hasn’t committed an error in his two seasons with the Braves.

“It’s been a privilege to play for Bobby Cox and his staff,” Kotchman said.

Kotchman said he has no preference for the American League.

“Baseball is baseball,” he said.

LaRoche is batting .248 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs for Pittsburgh and Boston. He has a career .295 average after the All-Star break, compared with .252 before the break.

“LaRoche has always been a second-half guy and we’re hoping he’ll come through in the second half,” Cox said.

The Braves gain needed power for their lineup. LaRoche has hit more than 20 homers in each of the last four seasons. Kotchman’s career high was the 14 homers he hit for the Braves and Angels last season.

The Braves recalled first baseman Barbaro Canizares from Triple A Gwinnett for Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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