Circling the Bases: Bourn Still Searching

LAROCHE RE-SIGNS WITH NATS

Adam LaRoche has agreed to a two-year deal with the Nationals for $24 million (there is also a mutual option for 2015). Apparently Adam was unable to convince a team to give him a three-year deal, so he returned to the devil he knew, the Nationals, and a chance to once again make the playoffs (obviously the mutual option leaves open the possibility of a return for a third year). LaRoche is coming of a season of a career best 33 homers and his 100 RBI also tie his career best. Moreover, over the last seven years he has gone deep at least 21 times with 83 RBI each season (save for his injury plagued 2011 effort of 43 games). Some more data. Since that 2006 season, here are his rankings at the first base position: 7th in extra base hits, 8th in homers, 8th in RBI and 9th in runs scored, all of that despite the fact that he appeared in just 43 games in 2011. He's not an elite power bat but there aren't many guys who you can legitimately book for

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