BRADENTON, Fla. -- Despite not being one of the players approached with a multi-year deal this offseason, first baseman Adam LaRoche continues to reaffirm his interest in staying in Pittsburgh beyond the 2009 season.

LaRoche becomes a free agent at the end of this year, which would seem to work against any chance the Pirates have of retaining the first baseman. For more than a year, LaRoche has expressed interest in remaining in Pittsburgh beyond this season.

However, management decided not to engage in multi-year talks with LaRoche this offseason, despite knowing that the first baseman is in his final year of club control. Instead, the two sides agreed on a one-year deal worth $7.05 million.

It was a decision, general manager Neal Huntington said, that was made because of futile negotiations on a multi-year deal after the 2007 season. The expectations from LaRoche and the offers from the Pirates differed greatly at the time. Huntington said that he anticipated similar differences to surface this winter if negotiations reopened.

LaRoche said he understands the hesitations on the Pirates' behalf, but that he wonders, like many, if that's a sign of his imminent departure. Still, he said he hopes to get a serious look from the Pirates over the next year as they begin to piece together their club for future seasons.

"I'm not opposed to playing here for the rest of my career, if it can work it out," LaRoche said. "If they were to approach me, I would take it very seriously. I would take a long look at it to stay here."

LaRoche added that he would be willing to open talks about a deal during the season, though Huntington has said he prefers to shy away from in-season negotiations in order to prevent potential distractions.

Though he very well could seek out a more lucrative deal elsewhere, LaRoche said that there are certain intangibles that a return to Pittsburgh could offer that he would not be able to take advantage of elsewhere. Those intangibles all center around family.

"I'm not opposed to staying here as long as I can -- especially with my brother [Andy] being here," the elder of the two brothers said. "I want to play with him as long as I can. And I love the group of guys. I like the staff that we have. My family likes Pittsburgh, and I don't want to leave that."

The reality is, though, that the way the offseason played out does not portend a long-term relationship between LaRoche and the Pirates. LaRoche is in line to make $7 million this year, which means the Pirates are probably nearing -- if not there already -- the point where LaRoche does not financially fit.

Part of LaRoche's value will be determined by his ability to offset his slow-start tendencies. While the Pirates certainly hope the first baseman can provide substantial production early in the season, if LaRoche does so, he could very easily raise his price tag out of the Pirates' range.

Add in the fact that the Pirates will now have to outbid 29 other clubs in free agency and the odds continue to slim.

In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise for the Pirates to float LaRoche's name at the Trade Deadline -- if the team is out of contention -- in an effort to at least gain some return in the Pirates don't anticipate LaRoche returning.

"It's going to have to be a case where we determine how good the fit is long term, how good the fit is financially, what the alternatives are and what he's looking for," Huntington said of LaRoche's chances to stay in Pittsburgh. "I don't want to say, 'No, we won't be able to bring him back.' But at the same time, I don't want to overstate how optimistic we are."