Adam LaRoche Should Strongly Consider Signing With Pittsburgh Pirates
By Justin Broyles
@Tweets_ByJ
Getty Images
A couple seasons ago, Adam LaRoche was a sought-after free agent coming of a career-best offensive season with the Washington Nationals. This time around in free agency, he does not have as much interest in his services. One team that could have interest and could use LaRoche is the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates have had a hole at first base for almost a decade. They have tried different players every year, including LaRoche, and none of them panned out at the time. A homecoming with LaRoche is a possibility. The Pirates currently have an ineffective three-headed monster at first base that consists of Ike Davis, Gaby Sanchez and Pedro Alvarez. This group was worth a negative amount of wins this season according, while LaRoche was worth 1.6 wins for the Nationals. The opportunity is there for LaRoche to start for one of his former teams.
Another aspect that LaRoche would like about the Pirates is the money he could earn. Normally, the Pirates don’t spend a lot of money on players, but this would be an exception. When the Pirates needed a catcher two seasons ago, they outbid teams to sign Russell Martin. The Pirates may want to do this again because they will be playing that three-headed monster over $10 million next year combined.
That is far too much money for an underachieving bunch, so the Pirates could offer the aging LaRoche more money than another team in order to upgrade the position.
Finally, LaRoche may want to sign in Pittsburgh because that they are a contender. Many of the perennial contenders in baseball already have a first baseman who is younger or better than LaRoche, and the Nationals will have no choice but to move Ryan Zimmerman (and his large contract) to first base due to health.
The Pirates seem like the only team that could show significant interest and make the playoffs. With LaRoche still looking for a World Series ring, they are his best option.
Justin Broyles is a Pirates writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @Tweets_ByJ, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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