Adam LaRoche had stated several times throughout this off-season that he wanted to stay with the Washington Nationals, but the two sides had previously been unable to come to an agreement. On Tuesday, they were finally able to work together on a new deal.
MLB Network announced shortly before noon on Tuesday morning that the two sides had reached an agreement on a two-year deal, pending a physical. The exact terms of the deal have not been released, but it was reported that LaRoche was initially looking for a deal around $25 million.
He finished the 2012 season with 33 home runs, while hitting .271 and driving in 100 runs. Nationals manager Davey Johnson has been very adamant about LaRoche returning to the club, even inviting him to a charity golf tournament in Orlando.
Teammate Kurt Suzuki was happy to hear about the news, and offered a few words about LaRoche:
Having him as a teammate and a leader in the clubhouse, people don't really get to see that part of him. That aspect of him as a teammate and a leader is just as important as his performance on the field. His performance on the field was pretty incredible. That goes to show you what kind of guy that he is.
He will return to a lineup that includes Bryce Harper, Denard Span and Jayson Werth. His new deal will likely push the Nationals payroll past the $100 million mark, the highest it's been in franchise history.
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