The Pirates have first baseman Adam LaRoche under team control through the 2009 season, currently. However, they have recently approached LaRoche about a three or four-year contract. They could be buying out two years of free agency.
Dejan Kovacevic notes that LaRoche and the Pirates only have a week to reach an agreement or put in their figures for his ’08 salary. They could reach an agreement for ’08 and then work out an extension that would start with ’09.
LaRoche hit .272/.345/.458 in 2007, while the average NL 1B hit .284/.365/.481. He was above average for his position in ’06, though. And if we cut him a break for his first month in Pittsburgh, we see that he hit .296/.361/.492 thereafter. LaRoche turned 28 in November, so he may still be in his prime.
