Royals complete Jason LaRue deal by giving Reds $1

The Royals’ media guide still lists the Royals sending a player to be named to the Reds in exchange for catcher Jason LaRue. Has that trade never been completed?
-- Jason J., Prairie Village, Kan.

That November 20, 2006, deal that brought LaRue to the Royals has been completed, Taylor tells us. The Royals sent the Reds $1. That’s right, the big one buck that is sometimes specified as “cash considerations” if the two teams cannot agree on the player to be named. This is a fairly common practice. The Reds wanted to move LaRue and his $5.45 million salary that winter and they assumed a large chunk of it to make the deal. The Royals, in return, agreed to send the Reds a player to be named or $1. Reading between the lines, it appears the Reds just wanted to clear most of LaRue’s salary off their books and really didn’t care about receiving a player in return. They could apply the $1 to Ken Griffey Jr.’s salary.

LaRue hit.148 in 66 games. I’d much rather have the $1.