Nationals unlikely to re-sign Adam LaRoche this offseason

First baseman Adam LaRoche does not believe he will be back with the Washington Nationals next season, as he tells CSNWashington's Mark Zuckerman that the two parties are likely to move on from each other. "If you had to ask me now, I would assume that I would have to move on, unfortunately," he said. Washington carries a mutual option on LaRoche for 2015, but at $15 million, it is more likely that the Nationals opt for the $2 million buyout.

While LaRoche has been quite good this season, the Nationals are set up to have a crowded infield next year, and were he to stay, LaRoche would likely be the odd man out. Longtime third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will almost certainly move to first base full-time next year due to injury problems that have limited him to just 54 games this season. The Nationals' outfield is also locked in with Bryce Harper, Denard Span, and Jayson Werth.

In 135 games this season, LaRoche has hit .255/.359/.452 with 25 home runs, 88 RBIs, 80 walks, a 125 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. LaRoche should garner plenty of attention on the free agent market this offseason, though it's highly unlikely that he matches the two-year, $24 million deal Washington handed him prior to the 2013 season.