Ray - It is one of two things. Either the Nats have to pay $2MM to walk away in any event or the Nats pay $2MM to walk away only if ALR wants to exercise it. I'm not sure if the Nats are on the hook if ALR wants to walk away.
It means Laroche gets $2 million either way. If he opts out the team owes him $2 million. If the team opts out they owe him $2 million. It's just a guarantee of extra money that they are delaying for another year. He won't be back after 2014.
Spidey is probably right.
The part that doesn't make sense to me is, if he opts out the Nats are on the hook?
So, assuming they have a mutual option, for say 10M, and after 2014 the Nats exercise the option and LaRoche declines. I can't see how the Nats could be on the hook for 2M.
