Nationals to sign Adam LaRoche

The Washington Nationals have reached a two-year agreement with free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post:

Source: The Nats have agreed to terms with Adam LaRoche on a two-year deal.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) January 8, 2013

The contract guarantees LaRoche $22 million over the next two years -- $10 million in 2013, $12 million in 2014 -- and includes a mutual option for a third year with a $2 million buyout, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.

LaRoche entered the offseason seeking a guaranteed three-year deal, but teams, including the Nationals, were only offering the slugger a two-year commitment. He continued to hold out for the third guaranteed year, but relented in the end.

LaRoche has spent the past two seasons with the Nationals after signing with the club as a free agent in January of 20011.

After enduring an injury-plagued 2011 campaign, during which he hit .172/.288/.258 over 43 games, LaRoche bounced back in a big way last year. The 33-year-old hit .271/.343/.510 with 35 doubles and 33 home runs over 571 at-bats for the Nationals last season. His impressive performance garnered him National League MVP considerations.

With LaRoche back in the fold, the Nationals may now turn their attention to first baseman/outfielder Mike Morse. There’s been speculation that a re-signing of LaRoche could result in a trade of Morse, as Washington could look to flip the slugger to help fill other areas of need.