Las Vegas’ LaRoche shuts out trade talk

It could have been worse for Andy LaRoche on Tuesday. The text messages he received were more about someone else being traded from the Dodgers organization than the 51s third baseman going anywhere.

Imagine if he had read this: U R A DEVIL RAY GOOD LUK W/ THAT.

Suddenly, he would have been yearning for that next bus trip to Fresno.

LaRoche is like 29 other minor leaguers considered a franchise’s top prospect, which means the major league trade deadline rolls around each year and his current address changes with each click of an Internet rumor. You are headed to Boston one minute and Oakland the next and — God forbid — Tampa Bay the next.

Some reports are legitimate. Some are educated guesses. Some are from the creepy guy with a Web site sitting in his underwear at a kitchen table in Des Moines.

It’s a flattering and yet frustrating role for a player to own, knowing other teams might consider your future exceedingly bright and yet not being assured your own franchise thinks as much.

Today, LaRoche is probably a little clearer on the latter part.

“What Andy needs to realize — and I hope he understands — is that he’s still here because the Dodgers want him here and he’s in their plans, especially the way he has been hitting,” 51s manager Lorenzo Bundy said. “It can be tough. I’m sure he’s starting to look around and wonder if he’s the (odd man out). But he just needs to be ready, be ready, be ready. For the most part, our guys have been ready when the call comes.”

It seemingly happens around here more often than flash flood advisories are reported. The 51s had 15 players promoted at one time or another last season, and 12 have been called up this year, including outfielder Delwyn Young on Tuesday. It was LaRoche who relayed a message to his close friend and roommate to telephone Bundy, who informed Young he had an afternoon flight to Los Angeles.

No calls about LaRoche came. Just those text messages about a certain trade.

You might think the news of infielder Wilson Betemit going to the Yankees for reliever Scott Proctor would have made LaRoche’s day a tad brighter, the thought of a player who spent time at third base for the Dodgers leaving. A few trade deadlines ago, it would have.

“You hear so many things this time of year, you really can’t take any of it with much credibility until something actually happens,” LaRoche said. “I was real happy for (Young). He earned it. I was also a little jealous. I’ve been up there. I know how unbelievable it is.”

He also knows how best to react when asked to leave.

LaRoche wasn’t 100 percent healthy those three weeks in May he spent with the Dodgers, hitting .211 in 38 at-bats. So he returned to Las Vegas, spent time on the disabled list while his ailing shoulders healed, then went on a tear.

He entered Tuesday’s home game against Round Rock hitting .317 with 15 home runs and 41 RBIs in 60 games. He has hit in eight straight.

It’s not the way everyone responds to being demoted. Tony Abreu hasn’t played for the 51s since being returned July 19, the official word being because of an injured side. You wonder if it’s more bruised ego, given how healthy the infielder appeared hitting line drives in batting practice Tuesday.

LaRoche is just 24, but seems to get the business better than others. His father pitched 14 seasons in the majors for five teams, and his brother (Adam) is in his fourth major league season and first with Pittsburgh. More than a few family conversations have been about the good and bad of pro baseball.

“I’ve seen (Adam) go through all of it, getting traded and being called up and then sent down again,” LaRoche said. “I’ve felt his pain. But it really comes down to personal experience. My time will come to be up there again, maybe soon or maybe during September (call-ups) or maybe next year.”

So he won’t worry about when he might join the likes of young Dodgers stars such as Matt Kemp and James Loney and Russell Martin and Andre Ethier. He won’t begin to wonder if Nomar Garciaparra indeed will play out his contract next season at the position many think LaRoche could eventually hold in L.A. for years. He won’t listen to rumors about what other teams are interested.

“I heard about 10 different ones before (the deadline) this year,” LaRoche said. “I didn’t hear the Devil Rays.”

LUKY 4 HIM.

Ed Graney’s column is published Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.