The Nationals re-signed first baseman Adam LaRoche to a two-year, $24 million deal with a mutual option for a third season Tuesday.

By re-signing LaRoche, the Nationals have their starting infield from last year intact. Besides LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman will be at third, while Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa will serve as the double-play combination at shortstop and second base, respectively.

For most of the offseason, the length of the contract was a problem between LaRoche and the Nationals. The left-handed hitter, a free agent for the third time in his career, had wanted a three-year deal, but the Nationals held steady on their offer of two years. The Nationals never set a deadline on when to stop negotiating with LaRoche.

The club made a qualifying offer worth $13.3 million in November, but LaRoche turned it down. If he had signed with another team, the Nats would have received a compensation pick after the first round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.