According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, The Baltimore Orioles are close to adding 1st baseman Adam LaRoche.
http://twitter.com/#!/ed_price/status/15493308784582656
LaRoche would be reunited with his former Diamondbacks teammate Mark Reynolds, who has been helping recruit LaRoche to Baltimore.
LaRoche, who turned 31 in November, has an .827 career OPS and 6 seasons of at-least 20 homers. His numbers the past 3 years are:
2008: 136 games, 32 doubles, 25 hrs, 85 rbi, 54 bb’s, 122 k’s, .841 OPS, UZR/150 (-6.5)
2009: 150 games, 38 doubles, 25 hrs, 83 rbi, 69 bb’s, 149 k’s, .843 OPS, UZR/150 0.2
2010: 151 games, 37 doubles, 25 hrs, 100 rbi, 48 bb’s, 172 k’s, .788 OPS, UZR/ 150 4.8
In those 3 years, he has a .742 OPS vs. LHP in 492 ab’s, and a .858 OPS vs RHP in 1,115 ab’s.
The OPS dropped in 2010, but even at that level he would be an upgrade to the O’s lineup vs. what they had this past year. If he gets back to his ’08 and ’09 levels , he can help a lot. Strikeouts are fairly overrated but I do note his have increased from 122 in ’08 to 172 in ’10. He has shown an ability to be durable, provide 60 xbh’s a year, with solid defense.
If LaRoche joins the O’s, it will be interesting to see what type of contract he gets. Ideally he would be obtained with 1 year with an option, or with a 2 year deal. Derek Lee would be a better option, but you can not make players sign with you. LaRoche is a pretty good bet to provide at-least league average production for a year or two and greatly help the O’s find the respectably they have been seeking.
If the O’s are able to sign LaRoche, they will have upgraded at 1st, SS, and 3rd. If they produce at their career levels, the Orioles will be much improved.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.