Arizona signs Adam LaRoche

[.GR]

Adam LaRoche has found a team, signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

LaRoche turned down a 2-year, $17.5 million offer from the San Francisco Giants, according to multiple reports, after originally asking clubs for a three-year contract.

The Diamondbacks can now use Conor Jackson in the outfield and send Brandon Allen back to Triple-A for more seasoning. With Jackson available for outfield work, Eric Byrnes could become the subject of trade talk again, as Justin Upton, Chris Young and Gerardo Parra are expected to fill out the starting outfield spots.

LaRoche's signing removes yet another option off the table for fellow first-base types such as Russell Branyan, Carlos Delgado and Hank Blalock.

 

[playmaker7]

Really...REALLY

Oh well. I'm glad the Giants didn't want to pay him 10M over 3 years and got a solid 1B in Aubrey Huff instead. Hope he finds success though

 

[The Guid]

Was gonna say, this has to sting as a Giants fan. Pretty reasonable deal, a bit cheap, should work out well for Arizona.

 

[playmaker7]

Was gonna say, this has to sting as a Giants fan. Pretty reasonable deal, a bit cheap, should work out well for Arizona.

Yeah thats what gets me. He set his asking price at 3 years, 32M but took this one year deal. I'm sure the Giants would have took this...

SMFH

 

[Mexi]

AZ has potential to be a real sleeper next year

NL West is solid

 

[snipezo]

NL West is solid

True. A couple of years ago NL West was a weak division lol.

 

[cruzg24]

AZ has potential to be a real sleeper next year

NL West is solid

I dont think they have enough offense. And Webb has to come back to his normal self after having an injury plaugued year last year, but they could be good.

 

[A.E]

Something about the LaRoche's really irks me. This yahoo turns down 2 years and $17.5 from San Francisco...only to end up in Arizona for 1 year & less money. You know that game they like to play on Baseball Tonight, "Name that LaRoche"? I got a new one called "If your a LaRoche". If your a LaRoche, don't think your in any position to hold out for $32M, in hopes that your gonna generate some sort of market for yourself.

LaRoche is a decent player but I don't know what him think he was gonna be overpaid this off-season. The market for corner infielders was crummy this off-season...but a lot of teams aren't hard up for 1B. Even the Giants signed Huff with Sandoval, Garko, and Ishikawa already in place.

 

[The Guid]

well, Garko's a free agent but your point was made.

LaRoche is an average 1B, fielding and hitting wise, and was pretty crazy to think he'd get much more than this salary. San Fran was stupid to offer $17.5 mill for him and they lucked out because he was too stupid to take it.