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Marlins make Adam LaRoche two-year, $20 million offer

After handing out the single largest contract in North American sports history, the Marlins are reportedly considering making another significant splash.

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

In the wake of Giancarlo Stanton's monstrous payday, the Miami Marlins seem set on making some more splashes this offseason, and upgrading their first base situation appears to be among their priorities. According to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, the Marlins are heavily interested in free agent Adam LaRoche and have submitted a two-year, $20 million offer to the first baseman.

The 35-year-old LaRoche would seemingly be a clear-cut upgrade over incumbent Garrett Jones, who posted just a 98 OPS+ in 2014. LaRoche is coming off a bounce-back year in which he hit .259/.362/.455 with a 124 OPS+, 26 home runs, and 2.2 WAR. Last month, the Washington Nationals made the decision to decline LaRoche's $15 million club option for 2015, though that had more to do with Washington wanting to move Ryan Zimmerman over to first base (and LaRoche's excessive salary) than LaRoche himself.

The Marlins are in a unique situation having actually saved money in the short-term by giving Stanton his massive extension. Stanton will make just $15.5 million combined over the next two seasons, so adding LaRoche on a two-year deal would do little to hamper Miami's spending flexibility.

Per Jackson, the Marlins also seem set on upgrading their rotation this winter. Jackson notes that the Marlins have shown interest in free agents Justin Masterson and Jason Hammel, as well as Arizona Diamondbacks' starter Wade Miley, who could become available.