LaRoche: Apologies and Appreciation

[NJ Ave]

Apologies, I may have gotten too heated over the possibility that we continue this thing with ALR. I can't stand our offense seeming dependent every year on such a streaky hitter.

[DPMOmaha]

Apologies, I may have gotten too heated over the possibility that we continue this thing with ALR. I can't stand our offense seeming dependent every year on such a streaky hitter.

You're good. All hitters are streaky to a certain extent. The issue isn't LaR so much as it is the guys that he's supposed to compliment can't say out of the MASH unit. He's a pretty nice complimentary piece when you've got Zim, Harper and Ramos all in there regularly. Most lineups will struggle to stay afloat when they have to find replacements for guys like that. That's not on LaR, or even Rizzo, to a certain extent.

[HalfSmokes]

LaRoche seems perfect for a qualifying offer- if he takes it fine, if someone wants to give him multiple years congratulate him and pocket the pick

[JMW IV]

LaRoche seems perfect for a qualifying offer- if he takes it fine, if someone wants to give him multiple years congratulate him and pocket the pick

and then Zimmerman can play 1st and Rendon can stay at 3rd full time.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I would not want him back at 1 year $15MM.  Not with RZ's shoulder.

NJ Ave- what sort of offer do you think he'd get if we did offer him a QO?  Would a team offer him 2, $26MM if it also cost them a pick and their top allocation in the draft bonus pool?  If his 2 year offer was in the neighborhood of $20MM, would he likely be better off taking the QO and hitting the market again?  I can't believe an agent would not have him take the QO if offered.

[rbw5t]

I would not want him back at 1 year $15MM.  Not with RZ's shoulder.

NJ Ave- what sort of offer do you think he'd get if we did offer him a QO?  Would a team offer him 2, $26MM if it also cost them a pick and their top allocation in the draft bonus pool?  If his 2 year offer was in the neighborhood of $20MM, would he likely be better off taking the QO and hitting the market again?  I can't believe an agent would not have him take the QO if offered.

I'm not sure how it plays into the analysis, but I'm pretty sure there is mutual option for next year as well.  I don't know the number, but it's probably for slightly less than the QO will end up being.  If we want him back, would we exercise the option, or would we pay more by making a QO, with the potential benefit of a draft pick if he declined.  I would think that given his age, he might prefer a lower-salary, longer-year deal (like 3-30, if he could get it) to one year at 15. 

[NJ Ave]

I would not want him back at 1 year $15MM.  Not with RZ's shoulder.

NJ Ave- what sort of offer do you think he'd get if we did offer him a QO?  Would a team offer him 2, $26MM if it also cost them a pick and their top allocation in the draft bonus pool?  If his 2 year offer was in the neighborhood of $20MM, would he likely be better off taking the QO and hitting the market again?  I can't believe an agent would not have him take the QO if offered.

If he has decent representation (I assume he does), he would have to take a qualifying offer. I just don't think we'd offer it. But there's no way he'd get a contract if Stephen Drew didn't get a contract. They're similar players, even if they don't provide value the exact same way.

But no one in the league would give up a draft pick for Adam LaRoche on a 2-year deal. Teams are valuing draft picks at like $10-15 million I believe, which means that if they'd normally pay 2/$26 for LaRoche, they pay more like 2/$16 or 2/$11 with the draft pick attached.

In my opinion, Rizzo is just a standup guy. I think he'll let Adam walk with a thank you, and not hamper his multi-year aspirations with a qualifying offer.

[NJ Ave]

For example, Lohse got 3/$33 with the QO attached, and definitely would have gotten 4/$50 without it. I don't really know what separates him from Edwin Jackson or guys like that.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

What I expect is Adam to turn down the mutual option and Rizzo not to make the QO.

[varoadking]

What I expect is Adam to turn down the mutual option and Rizzo not to make the QO.

This ^^^^^^^

[Jordanz Meatballz]

Nice article about LaRoche in the Post:

http://m.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/new-stance-and-more-weight-help-adam-laroche-achieve-surprising-april-success/2014/05/01/f87b195a-d143-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html

Gives some insight into why LaRoche is hitting well to left. Hopefully it keeps up.

[sph274]

after the stephen drew and kendrys morales debacles, if laroche gets a QO, he takes it in a heartbeat. We can get a lot more for our money elsewhere

[NJ Ave]

after the stephen drew and kendrys morales debacles, if laroche gets a QO, he takes it in a heartbeat. We can get a lot more for our money elsewhere

I agree he takes it in a heartbeat. I don't know that I agree that we can get a *lot* more for our money elsewhere, but I think it should be clear to management at this point that Zimmerman needs to move to 1B. We can't go through the errors and sore shoulder DL stays every year when we have a better 3B playing 2B and a better 2B playing utility infield (assuming Espinosa is back in his 3-WAR form). Also, I love "good" LaRoche but this is not a player who cannot be replaced. This is not Boston with Big Papi where they simply cannot afford to lose his bat and are forced to give him extensions every year.

[blue911]

LaRoche has a $2M buy out on a $15M mutual option so I don't see the Nats going the QO route.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

We really ought to try and get LaRoche to the All-Star game. He is quietly having the best offensive season of his career.

[Canada]

Stats don't lie: LaRoche and Rendon have been our most valuable hitters so far (Strasburg's in the lead overall).

Hmm. How many fools in here bash our best player every time they can? Idiots

[madj55]

^ Post is from April 26th.

Rendon leads the team in WAR right now, followed by Stras, JZ, and Roark/LaRoche

[BigMeech]

Hmm. How many fools in here bash our best player every time they can? Idiots

Omfg.

[spidernat]

Hmm. How many fools in here bash our best player every time they can? Idiots

Give your jaw a break dude.

[PebbleBall]

^ Post is from April 26th.

Rendon leads the team in WAR right now, followed by Stras, JZ, and Roark/LaRoche

Stras has an extra start, so JZ has the best pitching WAR.  I don't think anybody in their right mind would call Strasburg the best Nats player right now.

[whytev]

Stellar defence. Saved a lot of throwing errors. Runs into foul territory like a champ. Hit like crazy early on when everyone was injured. Had one bad month. Gets on base. Walks. Slugs.

Now he is hitting .333 in August and has matched his best month (June) for homers with 5 already. Mostly clutch.

Love this guy.

[metssuck]

Feels like he's been our most consistent clutch player since his tenure here. Best 1b we had since Nick johnson

[whytev]

Feels like he's Been the consistent clutch player since his tenure here. Best 1b we had since Nick johnson

Yes. Also you have to assume he is saying good things to pitchers.

[mmzznnxx]

Easily an MVP candidate for this year, and I think he was definitely the MVP for 2012. He has some rough patches, and I wasn't so on board with his signing, but he's showed me up. Good Nats player. Hope it continues the rest of the season, because I don't think he'll be here next year, though I wish he would be.

[Natsinpwc]

MVP seems a bit of a stretch but it is great to see him hitting again.