Nationals, Adam LaRoche agree to 2-year deal

WASHINGTON – Free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche and the Washington Nationals have finalized a two-year contract worth about $16 million.

LaRoche fills a big need for the Nationals, who lost first baseman Adam Dunn to the White Sox via free agency.

The 31-year-old LaRoche hit .261 with 25 homers and a career-high 100 RBIs for Arizona last season. He has a career .271 average with 161 homers and 569 RBIs during seven major league seasons with four clubs.

LaRoche hit at least 20 homers each of the last six seasons. He doesn't provide the same power as Dunn — who hit at least 38 homers the past seven seasons and drove in at least 100 runs six of those years — LaRoche represents an upgrade defensively.