The Washington Nationals grab Adam LaRoche on a 2-year deal
It doesn’t take long for the Washington Nationals to impress free agents in the market, and they have done it again by signing former Arizona Diamondbacks player, Adam LaRoche.
The Nationals recent activity in the offseason period has astonished many baseball analysts. For general manager Mike Rizzo and his team, signing the best veterans in the market is a requirement that goes beyond the club’s goals in 2011. With a large base
of prospects creeping up in the minor leagues, the team has the potential to bring in A-class veterans who can mould the team into a deadly force in the long run. That is something they wanted to accomplish this season and much to their credit, they did. Some
of the top players in the market were up for grabs and the Nats were in the race to sign some of them. They failed to sign on Cliff Lee, who moved to the Philadelphia Phillies on a 5-year deal.
However, the Nationals did accomplish much when they signed Jayson Werth on a deal worth $126 million. Now the club has made another influential signing. Adam LaRoche, formerly a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks squad, has come to the Nats on a 2-year
deal worth more than $16 million. The 31-year-old player comes in to replace departed Adam Dunn who moved away to the Chicago White Sox, recently.
The Nationals’ relief pitcher, Sean Burnett will be reunited with player and at the eve of the news, he said a lot of things about his former Pittsburgh Pirates’ squad mate.
"He is a very laid-back guy, but at the same time, he will bring a veteran leadership presence in the clubhouse," Burnett said. "He has one of the sweetest left-handed swings in the game right now. He has a lot of power and is one of the best defensive first
basemen in the league.”
"People don't know how good he is defensively. He is a Gold Glove-calibre first baseman. He is second to none. I played with him in Pittsburgh. He is as good as they come. He has shortstop hands as a first baseman. It had a huge impact on the pitching staff.
He makes plays that you don't expect other people to make."
LaRoche registered some amazing figures of .261, last season. His average was backed by 25 home runs and 100 Runs Batted In. His impressive season for the Diamondbacks is what made the Nationals pick him up from the free agency.
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