Pirates, LaRoche agree on one-year deal
The Pirates and first baseman Adam LaRoche avoided arbitration yesterday by agreeing to a one-year contract with a base salary of $5 million.
The sides plan to continue discussing a long-term extension, one that could cover as long as four years.
The team recently approached LaRoche to gauge his interest in that regard, and he said he was amenable. But all concerned wished to have the one-year contract completed in advance of Major League Baseball's Friday deadline for exchanging arbitration figures.
LaRoche, 28, made $3.2 million in base pay last season while batting .272 with 21 home runs and 88 RBIs. He can become a free agent after the 2009 season.
The Pirates still have four unsigned arbitration-eligible players -- second baseman Freddy Sanchez, third baseman Jose Bautista, outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever John Grabow -- and all are believed to be negotiating one-year deals.
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Pirates, LaRoche agree on one-year deal
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