Nationals Make a Pair of Roster Moves, Span Excercises Option
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Mike McGinnis/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The Washington Nationals are already preparing for the 2015 regular season as they’ve made a couple of decisions on their roster that could help shape the team going forward.
Center Fielder Denard Span decided to exercise his option for the 2015 season that will keep him in Washington next season while getting paid $9 million.
Span just wrapped up his second season with the Nationals and batted .302 with 31 steals. He also was tied for the league record for 184 hits, which was also a Nationals’ record.
The team did decide, however, to decline the options on first baseman Adam LaRoche as well as closer/reliever Rafael Soriano.
LaRoche has been one of the team’s most consistent hitters the past few seasons, and led the team with 26 home runs and 92 RBIs. The Nationals decided to decline a mutual option in 2015 that would pay him $15 million. The team will instead pay him $2 million.
Soriano’s contract included a $14 million club option for 2015, but he will become a free agent instead. He saved 32 games in 2014, but he blew five of 15 save chances after the All-Star break while Drew Storen emerged as a capable replacement towards the end of the season.
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