Washington Nationals will not change two-year offer for Adam LaRoche, reiterates Mike Rizzo - MLB
Washington Nationals are not going to alter their offer for first baseman, Adam LaRoche. This has been confirmed by their General Manager, Mike Rizzo.
Engaged in talks for the last many weeks, a point has come now where the status quo cannot continue.
Either LaRoche will agree to what the Nationals say or the negotiations will fail.
The Nationals have their roster filled with almost all the position players they require. They are without any desperate need for a first baseman.
This is something that LaRoche will be aware of.
If he wants to stay with the Nationals, he has to accept their offer. The ploy of delaying and expecting the Nationals to show some flexibility in their stance is not going to work for him, because they seem to have made up their mind.
The club has the option of moving Michael Morse to first base if LaRoche goes elsewhere. Besides, Washington acquired an outfielder, Denard Span through a trade earlier who can replace Morse in left field.
The fact of the matter is LaRoche is not getting any of the interested clubs to grant him the contract as per his aspirations. His age and the possibility of declining down the line are stopping teams from signing a three-year agreement with him.
What is even more worrisome for LaRoche is that buyers in the market are leaving after obtaining players that agreed to their offers.
Unsigned and uncertain about playing with any of the teams he likes to be a part of, LaRoche is hoping he gets the deal he covets.
In the last few days, it was reported his talks with Washington are going to make headway soon. So far, it has not been the case.
As the Nationals wind up the Winter Meetings and their officials move back home, concerns for LaRoche have increased. The possibility that Washington gives a final verdict and part ways with him permanently has also emerged.
Rizzo, while talking about the progress made in negotiations with LaRoche, has clarified that they are not going to change even a bit the offer being put on the table by them.
“Our deal is where it’s at,” Rizzo said. “I think we’re going to stay there. We’ve made that clear to him that a two-year deal for Adam LaRoche works for us and we’ve been pretty clear about that.”
He says they are very clear about what they need to do for their expedition in the next season and how to handle various possibilities that might arise in the future.
At the same time, Rizzo is hopeful LaRoche will eventually come to terms with them.
“I still feel optimistic that we can get him signed,” Rizzo said. “He wants to be here and we want him here. I’m optimistic.”
It will be interesting to see what changes LaRoche brings in his demand in the wake of the statement by Rizzo.
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