"Reports continue to surface that the Nationals are the front-runners to land free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, but they did not say if both sides were close to a deal.

For weeks, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that Adam LaRoche would be the starting first baseman for 2012.

During Spring Training, LaRoche was diagnosed with a torn labrum and rotator cuff. He ended up playing in 43 games, hitting .172 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. "