“If you had to ask me now, I would assume that I would have to move on, unfortunately,” Adam LaRoche told CSN Washington’s Mark Zuckerman about his future with the Nationals. Though LaRoche is having a strong season and is well-respected within the Nats’ clubhouse, the team may need to create a spot at first base for Ryan Zimmerman next season since Zimmerman is no longer able to play third. If the Nationals do decline their side of LaRoche’s $15MM mutual option for 2015, expect the veteran to draw interest from several teams on the free agent market. LaRoche will turn 35 in November but he’s still playing well enough to help any team in need of left-handed pop.
Here’s some more from around the NL East…
- The Phillies haven’t had much success in trying to trade Jonathan Papelbon over the last year and releasing him would be a waste of an asset, CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury writes in an analysis of the team’s options with the controversial closer. Papelbon’s no-trade clause and 2016 vesting option make it complicated to either deal him or demote him from the closer’s job, so Salisbury notes that the team could just bring him back next season and hope to swing a trade next summer.
- Also from Salisbury’s piece, he notes that the Phillies were willing to eat $13MM (of half) of Papelbon’s remaining salary in negotiations last offseason. The Phillies shopped Papelbon to the Tigers but Detroit wasn’t interested due to concerns that Papelbon wouldn’t be a fit in the team’s clubhouse.
- The Phillies will conduct a private workout with Yasmany Tomas today in the Dominican Republic, Baseball America’s Ben Badler reports, and GM Ruben Amaro will be in attendance. The Cuban outfielder’s open showcase on the weekend attracted scouts from several teams, and Tomas is expected to have private sessions with multiple teams in the near future.
- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had had his leadership questioned by some members of the organization during the team’s September collapse, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports. Along those same lines, Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC subscription required) thinks the Braves’ woeful performance over the last week has the appearance of a team that has quit on its manager. The Braves seem on the verge of making a GM change, and while Gonzalez’s job may not be in as much jeopardy, obviously he’d be on the hot seat unless the club improves in 2015.
- David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes (Twitter link) that the contract extensions signed by Gonzalez and GM Frank Wren last February ran through the end of the 2016 season. Gonzalez and Wren’s previous contracts were both set to expire at the end of the current season.
How can Fredi’s job not be in jeopardy? This is what’s wrong with the Braves. If he doesn’t go expect more disappointment.
I think LaRoche would be a great fit with the Brewers, provided they’d be willing to throw him a few bucks. Even on a 1 or 2 year deal, 10 mil?
Seems like a great fit and affordable. Though I think your annual value is a bit low if you want him for that short of time period. LaRoche seems like a guy that would give a larger than normal discount for more years as he has been the proverbial two year deal guy since I can remember.
My two cents – I would guess somewhere in the neighborhood of two years $22M or three years $27M.
I would love to see us sign LaRoche as long as it’s a two year deal. Somewhere around $20M seems right.
Then re-sign Reynolds as a 1B/3B backup and pinch hitter role.
ALR is tough to read. He’s been extremely streaky – can carry the team for a few weeks and then is nothing for a month. His 2011 and 2013 were awful. 2012 was really good. 2014 he was great in April and May, awful in July, and has been fantastic again this month. Bad back as well which could be reason for streakiness. Defense – amazing on scooping balls from SS/3B and great on balls hit hard at him, but very limited range. I’d be very very careful signing him. As a Nats fan, it’s been great to have him, but ready for R-Zimm to be the 1st baseman.
Why would the brew crew need LaRoche they already have two veteran first basemen (Overbay and Reynolds)?
Because the two veteran first basemen are Overbay and Reynolds.
That’s what I just said
They are bad, and LaRoche is pretty good.
LaRoche needs to go to the Phillies or the Yankee because the Phillies are trading Ryan Howard and the Yankees don’t know about Mark texieria
Why would the Phillies get Adam LaRoche?
Because they don’t want Ryan Howard and they need Laroche
They don’t need anyone. The only reason they want to get rid of Howard is because of his payroll. Besides, we will never trade Howard with a contract like his, because we’d have to eat his entire contract for someone to want him. Also, the Phillies will not come close to winning for a few years. Why pay someone millions to play first base when they could play Ruf at first. (which Ryan Sandberg has been trying to do) He’s 28, isn’t that bad, and is only currently getting payed 500,000. In fact, minus a little power, Ruf’s year wasn’t too far off from LaRoche’s 2013 season. So by getting LaRoche, we would be paying about 9.5 million more for a guy would might do as well someone that we currently have.
From comments made by Ervin Santana and others, it seems the Braves’ clubhouse is in dire need of a new voice.
Isn’t there another way out of the Papelbon dilemma, which is to either guarantee the option and then let Giles close as much as is useful or appropriate, or to pay Papelbon a fee (not the full price) to drop the vesting option, letting him become a FA after the 2015 year
LaRoche as a backup plan to Victor Martinez for the Sox? DH and let Abreu rest at DH spot a game or two a week.
Jonathan Papelbon’s option vests with 100 games finished between 2014-15. He finished 50 in 2014. Can’t they figure out a way to block him from reaching 100 without getting in trouble with the MLB? For instance, could they milk his suspension and say “You didn’t end the 2014 season as our closer because you were a jerk and got suspended. You’ve lost your closing job to Ken Giles, who also happens to have put up better numbers than you this season. Sorry!” ?
Jonathan Papelbon’s option vests with 100 games finished between 2014-15. He finished 50 in 2014. Can’t they figure out a way to block him from reaching 100 without getting in trouble with the MLB? For instance, could they milk his suspension and say “You didn’t end the 2014 season as our closer because you are a boor and got suspended. You’ve lost your closing job to Ken Giles, who also happens to have been more dominant than you this season. Sorry!” ?
Phils should make Papelbon a starter. His option won’t vest that way and they’ll arguably get more use out of him.
Papelbon for Nathan would have worked… If Philly would have ate 1/2 the salary.
Why would the Phillies ever make that deal? Papelbon is a loudmouth with a big contract, but he has value, which is something Nathan doesn’t have.
Papelbon has 37 saves.
Nathan has 34 saves and is still the closer for the Tigers.
Papelbon: 2.10 ERA, 61/15 K/BB
Nathan: 5.01 ERA, 52/28 K/BB
So again, why would the Phillies make that trade straight up AND eat 1/2 of Papelbon’s salary? Or are you just a troll?
Nathan has one year left at $10m and Papelbon has one year and a vesting year left at $13m a piece provided he meets his vesting criteria for a total of $26m. I could see where Detroit could ask for money if the option year vested.
I suppose the Phillies could see it as getting out from under that $13m a year early, but that still just seems pointless considering Papelbon is the far superior pitcher right now.
Seattle should take a look at LaRoche in the offseason if his option is declined. Usable as a DH (which Seattle realistically have none of) or at 1B (which has Smoak…ugh, at). Maybe 2 years at around 12 million a season?
Charlie Seattle doesn’t need LaRoche they have three first basemen ( Morrison, Hart, Smoak, and Morales)
I was thinking more for DH, and two out of those players you mentioned will not be back next year (obviously Morales and Hart on their one year, regrettably mediocre deals). And since Smoak’s bat is so awful, why not try and get LaRoche for first (though like I just said, I see him being used more as a DH with the Mariners) and have an upgrade for a struggling offense?
Charlie I like you so far but I just think LaRoche needs to go to the Phillies or the Yankees
LaRoche would have zero place at either team though. The Phillies are stuck with Ryan Howard, and don’t have the DH rule to fall back on (and even if they somehow found a way to move Howard, they have been talking about moving Chase Utley over to first to save the wear and tear on him.) Yanks have Tex (who for some odd reason cannot figure out how to keep from getting hurt) and after that a slew of different choices for DH. Besides, the Yankees have much bigger holes to fill over getting another 1st baseman, such as adding back to a depleted rotation, and figuring out if they can sign Headely to take over at 3rd and A-Rod switch around and hit at DH (with Beltran and others. Man the Yanks are going to have a few issues next year). And that is really just the tip of the iceberg with the problems facing the Yanks going into the offseason, so LaRoche is not even going to be talked about when it comes to the Yankees.
Ok then Charlie lets think besides the brewers or the Ms what team would want LaCoche?
Not a whole lot of teams have need or place for LaRoche, except maybe the Rangers (no clear DH, unless they keep Smolinski there, which is a possibility since he has proven to be good, even if it is only a short look), the Twins, though they really don’t seem to be in place yet to contend so they may stand pat. There is also the possibility of the White Sox if they don’t get VMart though that is all up in the air right now. At least that is all whom I see in the AL who have a need either at DH (though Detroit could be thrown in if VMart doesn’t resign there, though I doubt I see that happening) since most other teams either have a ready option at 1B, not enough payroll to cover LaRoche, or they have immovable players in that position (Yankees and Angels come to mind.) Other than the Brewers, in the NL the few that look in need of an upgrade at first are the Pirates and Marlins, though both of those look like long shots since the Pirates have need elsewhere (catcher and retaining their rather great pitching) and I am still not sure how much the Marlins are willing to spend, even though LaRoche isn’t going to be a super expensive free agent.
Rangers could but they might go after vmart
Yeah, possibly. Just depends if JD is willing to give up their 2nd round pick (since I am almost positive that their first round pick will be protected.)
I think the phils have a pretty decent shot at being the highest bidder for Tomas but maybe thas wishful thinking. I could see Seattle getting involved here too.
Laroche is a better hitter, and will almost certainly be a better first baseman, than Zimmerman. He is the most underappreciated player in the game.
This year Laroche has a 128 WRC+ and Zimmerman has a 127. Career Laroche has 113 and Zimmerman has 127. I think that they should try to keep Laroche and figure out a rotation of the players but no way I agree Laroche is the better hitter.