Report: White Sox agree to terms with Adam LaRoche on 2-year, $25M deal

The Chicago White Sox have added another power bat to the middle of their order.

Chicago has agreed to terms with first baseman Adam LaRoche on a two-year, $25-million deal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

LaRoche was among the top power hitters on the open market after batting .259/.362/.455 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs in 2014, his fourth season with the Washington Nationals.

The 35-year-old has hit at least 20 homers in nine of his 11 seasons and sports a career OPS of .811. LaRoche figures to see time at first base and designated hitter along with Jose Abreu, who swatted 36 homers en route to claiming the American League Rookie of the Year award.

LaRoche, a left-handed bat, consistently draws walks and hits for power at an above-average rate, fairing especially well in those two areas last season. His 14 percent walk rate ranked second in the National League, while his .196 isolated power percentage - which measures extra-base pop - was the ninth-best mark in the NL.

But platoon issues have bogged down LaRoche's overall numbers. He has a career .842 OPS versus right-handers compared to a mark of .718 against southpaws, and has struggled mightily hitting lefties the last two seasons. 

Still, LaRoche will help add a major boost to the White Sox lineup by replacing the at-bats that went last season to aging sluggers Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn.

The Nationals declined a $15-million option on LaRoche earlier in the offseason, buying him out for $2 million instead. Ryan Zimmerman is expected to move across the diamond and play first base for the Nationals in 2015.

LaRoche reportedly received a two-year, $20-million contract offer from the Miami Marlins earlier in the week. 

The White Sox have been busy this offseason. In addition to bringing LaRoche on board, Chicago signed left-handed reliever Zach Duke to a three-year, $15-million deal Tuesday.