Washington, DC

Free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche has agreed to a guaranteed two-year, $24-million deal to stay with the Washington Nationals, pending a physical.

According to ESPN.com sources, LaRoche will earn $10 million in the first year and $12 million in the second.

The contract also includes a $2 million mutual buyout option for 2015, sources said.

LaRoche is currently in Kansas City taking his physical, and the deal is expected to be completed by Tuesday evening or Wednesday.

Looking for a three-year deal, LaRoche recently declined a $13.3 million qualifying offer from Washington early in the offseason.

Earlier, Nationals manager Davey Johnson acknowledged LaRoche's importance to the team's success, declaring he "won't sleep comfortably" until the player re-signs.

Drafted by Atlanta in 2000, LaRoche played for the Braves in his first three big league seasons, hitting 32 homers in 2006.

He later played for Pittsburgh, Boston, Atlanta again and Arizona before signing with Washington as a free agent following the 2010 season.

LaRoche is coming off one of his best seasons, hitting .271 with 33 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards.

He has averaged 27 homers and 93 RBIs per 162 games over his nine Major League seasons.

With LaRoche's signing, the Nationals are expected to trade Michael Morse, who was the everyday left fielder last season.

The Nationals' outfield is already set with Bryce Harper, Denard Span and Jayson Werth and the club feels that it could use Morse to acquire pitching prospects to beef up its bullpen.

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