The Nationals own the best record in baseball (85-52) thanks in large part to Adam LaRoche, who is healthy after missing most of last season due to a shoulder injury. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the team hopes to retain the first baseman beyond this season with a new contract. GM Mike Rizzo went on to praise his primary cleanup hitter…
"He's a terrific player. He's probably been our most consistent player," said Rizzo. "We love having him as a player on the club. He's exactly the player we thought he was.''
LaRoche, 32, has a $10MM mutual option for 2013 in his contract, though he is likely to decline his half while the team picks up theirs. He signed a two-year, $16MM deal with Washington prior to last season and has hit .270/.343/.511 with 29 homers in 130 games this year after playing in just 43 games last summer. The upcoming free agent class is light on first basemen, so LaRoche should have no problem finding a multi-year guarantee on the open market.
I’m sorry. LaRoche is having a phenomenal year, but there is no way I feel comfortable giving him multiple years on a contract unless there is a serious discount.
10-12M a year isn’t bad for what he brings to the table. He basically gives you his career slash line every year.
If by “multiple”, you mean “two”, then this is just fine. More than that and I wouldn’t feel comfortable either.
Looking at his career lines the guy is due a pay day. He is a consistent hitter other than last seasons injury. You know what your getting and that is quality and production despite this being his “career” season.
And it’s not even like this is a “career” season it is just that production at 1B as declined as a whole while his has stayed exactly the same simply making him look better.
2 years/$20MM with a $2MM buyout and a $13MM club option seems reasonable for LaRoche’s numbers.
It only takes one to give him three (3) years. I think he’ll get it.
I think they let him go if they can’t agree on a reasonable extension. That is money that needs to go to Strasburg in a few years & possible Harper.