Washington Nationals: Quick Adam LaRoche, Carl Pavano Updates.

Last Friday, MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported, in an article entitled, "Nationals offer LaRoche two-year deal", that the Washington Nationals had in fact made a two-year offer to 31-year-old free agent Adam LaRoche after Derrek Lee had decided to join the Nats' Mid-Atlantic (and Interleague) rivals in Baltimore. The anonymous baseball source told Mr. Ladson that, "getting a deal done 'has been a slow process.'" MASNSports.com's Jen Royle's sources told the writer (as reported via Twitter (@MASNJenRoyle), that the former Braves, Pirates, Red Sox and D-Backs' first baseman was then, "...in negotiations with the Nationals on a multi-year deal in the $8-9 million per year range."

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's report today, the left-handed bat the Nats have been looking for is continuing to talk to the team. In an article entitled, "Talks progressing between Nationals, LaRoche", Mr. Ladson says a source tells him talks with LaRoche were "progressing" and, "...the two parties are not far apart when it comes to getting a deal done." LaRoche signed a 1-year/$6 million dollar deal with Arizona last January and posted a .261/.320/.468 slash line, with 37 doubles and 25 HR's and 100 RBI's in 151 games and 560 at bats. Boston Globe.com baseball writer Nick Cafardo wrote yesterday in an article entitled, "Bargain hunters cooking up plans at the Hot Stove", that the Nationals know convincing players to buy into the pla--Phase II is tough and that's why they, "overpaid for Jayson Werth and why they may give [Adam] LaRoche the three-year deal he's seeking."

The Globe's Mr. Cafardo also wrote that Carl Pavano's decision had narrowed to two teams, with the 34-year-old right-hander, "...likely to decide between Minnesota and Washington," at some point this week. SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote in the "Around the Majors" section of an article today entitled, "New Year's resolutions for 50 of the biggest names in baseball", that, "While the Nationals really weren't very involved earlier, they may need to overpay Pavano now," with the lure of returning to Minnesota strong for the starter, and, "...at least one or two other teams looking at Pavano."

Mr. Heyman also updates what he was reporting on the Twitter yesterday (@SI_JonHeyman) about new Brewers' starter Zack Greinke's having turned down an offer of a contract extension from the Nats if he'd agreed to a trade because, "he didn't believe they could win." Greinke, according to the SI.com writer, "was so anxious to win now that he is said to have been even contemplating walking out of Royals camp if it came to that," and the 27-year-old former Cy Young-winner, "...told Washington it wasn't about the money." Greinke didn't think the Washington was any closer to winning than Kansas City.

• LINK: MASNSports.com: Byron Kerr: Nats' top prospects - No. 4: A.J. Cole

"That is the high upside guy in this group," [Baseball America's Aaron] Fitt said. "Out of all the pitchers in their system, that is the one you can envision being toward the front of the rotation kind of a starter because he has premium arm strength. Another guy who can run the fastball up into the mid-90s, maybe touch a little bit more than that."