Now-former Nationals' 1B Adam LaRoche signs two-year deal with White Sox

Adam LaRoche told reporters, including the Washington Post's James Wagner, that the draft pick compensation tied to him after the Washington Nationals made a qualifying offer to the first baseman following a strong 2012 season, limited the market for his services when he tested the free agency that winter, hoping to find a multi-year deal.

"'[There were] probably two or three,'" LaRoche said, "'maybe four teams out there that that did affect as far as teams that were interested in me and just didn’t want to give up that pick.'"

The then-33-year-old middle-of-the-order bat ended up returing to the nation's capital on a 2-year/$24M deal, but he followed up on a career-best 3.3 fWAR, .271/.343/.510 line, 35 double, 33 home run season in 2012 with a 0.5 fWAR 2013 campaign which he finished with a .237/.332/.403 line, 19 doubles and 20 HRs.

In the second year of his second two-year contract with the Nationals, LaRoche posted a .259/.362/.455 line last season, hitting 19 doubles and 26 HRs for the division winners.

The Nats declined to pick up the $15M mutual option for 2015, however, opting for the $2M buyout included in the last contract with LaRoche, so the 35-year-old first baseman hit free agency again this winter, and on Friday night, LaRoche signed a 2-year/$25M deal with the American League Central's Chicago White Sox.

Adam LaRoche agrees to a 2-year deal with the #White Sox as they make second big move of winter. http://t.co/WHRGZQwqvl

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 22, 2014

The Nationals plan to play Ryan Zimmerman at first base in 2015, with the 30-year-old's shoulder forcing him to move across the infield after nearly a decade at third in D.C.

LaRoche will be playing for his sixth major league team next season and returning to the American League for the first time since 2009 when he played six games for the Boston Red Sox.