Nats Ink LaRoche for 2 More Years; Trade for Morse?

LaRoche will be in D.C. 2 more years. (NESN)

The Nationals made another big move of the offseason, locking up first baseman Adam LaRoche for two more years.  The Golden Glove and Sliver Slugger winner hit 33 home runs and had a .271 batting average last season.

Last year, LaRoche was responding to a 2011 season that saw him produce very little before being shut down for the year with a shoulder injury.  In 2012, he bounced back to show Nats fans why the team signed him to such a hefty contract in the first place.  LaRoche was a major part of the Nats playoff run this past fall.

Talks had been slow, but LaRoche is happy to be staying in the District.

LaRoche told the Washington Times' Amanda Comak:

"You know me, I wasn't stressing a lot. But I'm glad it's with Washington and not somewhere else."

...

"I was prepared to leave if I had to, but I was really trying to do everything I could to get back there."

While keeping LaRoche is good for the Nats, it likely means they won't be able to re-sign big bat Michael Morse.  Morse will certain attract some trade attention, hitting 18 home runs last season.  He added 62 RBIs with a .291 batting average.  He'll be of interest to several teams looking for a dependable hitter who can also play several different positions effectively.

The best part is that LaRoche's son Drake is "fired up." That's all that really counts, right?