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.