Boston Red Sox in touch with Adam LaRoche, according to sources-MLB Update
As per the sources, the Boston Red Sox are in contact with first baseman, Adam LaRoche.
Following an unsatisfactory physical exam report of Mike Napoli, the Red Sox are reluctant to officially announce the three-year agreement that they conceded earlier.
It seems more likely that they will refuse giving final touch to the deal of Napoli as they can look for other options in the market.
Napoli will be feeling unfortunate to have not completed the contract after negotiating the deal with the club successfully.
LaRoche is one of the candidates that can fit the needs of the Red Sox.
If Boston offers him the same deal that they granted Napoli, LaRoche will be extremely pleased and ready to join the club, most probably.
It is because he is seeking a three-year deal from his former organisation, the Washington Nationals, which they are unwilling to agree to.
In this context, the Red Sox can win him from the market and leave the Nationals play the next season without LaRoche.
The Nationals have so much at stake if LaRoche goes elsewhere.
For example, the bulk of the offensive success that the Nationals achieved during the last season can be attributed to LaRoche in many ways.
The fact he claimed Silver Slugger award, along with being Gold Glove at first base further reflects his stand out contributions for Washington.
Going into the upcoming season while LaRoche is missing from the line-up cannot be an ideal scenario for the Nationals.
Brian O'Halloran, an assistant general manager for Red Sox, has hinted that free agent LaRoche is under negotiations with them.
As for the contract of Napoli, he maintains that the club has not decided anything yet.
"I can't comment on it specifically," Brian O'Halloran said. "There's nothing new from when (GM) Ben (Cherington) spoke the last time (last week at a news conference announcing the signing of Ryan Dempster). We do continue to talk to a number of free agents
and there are conversations ongoing, as Ben alluded to previously."
LaRoche will be delighted in his heart as the number of buyers of him increases.
It will be interesting to see how that changes response of the Nationals as they try to retain LaRoche.
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