The Washington Nationals are paying Adam LaRoche $10 million this year, and what are they getting in return?
Thirty runs, 52 hits, and about 400 pounds of beef -- every month.
In an outstanding profile in the Washington Times, Nathan Fenno writes that Nationals team chef Faisal Sultani gets a huge assist every month from LaRoche.
The 33-year-old infielder owns a ranch in southeast Kansas, and every two months he has 800 pounds of hormone-and-antibiotic-free Black Angus beef (roughly two cows) sent to Sultani.
The beef is especially helpful on days when Sultani makes beef stroganoff. In order to feed 50 professional baseball players and coaches, Sultani needs about 100 pounds of beef.
It's not clear whether LaRoche gives the Nationals a discount on the beef, although with that salary, he certainly could afford to.
Sultani has visisted the ranch. LaRoche brought him there to cook for five weeks before spring training.
"Nothing against my wife," LaRoche told the Times, "but she doesn't compare to a professional chef’s cooking."
(H/T to For The Win)
