With Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reporting that the Washington Nationals have reached an agreement to bring back free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, it feels like an appropriate time to speculate what the team's next move might be.
That move should involve trading Michael Morse to the Seattle Mariners.
According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Nationals are already speaking to 5-6 teams regarding Morse.
Rosenthal points out that Morse will earn $7 million this season and then will be a free agent.
While the Mainers could easily begin the season with Justin Smoak at first base, Morse represents a fairly significant upgrade.
CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweeted a list of potential suitors for Morse that includes the Orioles, Rays, Yankees, Rangers, Phillies, Mets and Indians along with the Mariners.
Needless to say, there is stiff competition.
Rosenthal goes on to report that Morse strongly opposes being a DH wherever he ends up playing.
While he is poor defensively, according to Fangraphs.com owning a -21.9 career UZR and an .882 RZR, Rosenthal points out that the Mariners have shown that they are more focused on offense over defense after having just signed Raul Ibanez and trading for Kendrys Morales.
Morse owns a lifetime .295/.347/.492/.839 batting line which stands out as somewhat above average.
However, when looking at his career performances playing in Cleveland, New York, Philly, Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Seattle, Morse absolutely rakes at Safeco Field.
In 58 career games, he posted a .309/.382/.441/.822 line with 14 extra base hits and 25 RBI.
The only other comparable landing spot is Philadelphia. While having only played there 28 times, he owns a lifetime .353/.411/.667/1.077 line with 6 extra base hits and 13 RBI.
The Mariners, short of the Morales trade and Jason Bay signing, have really done little to obtain the talent they've sought this winter.
When given a full-time opportunity to play, Morse can be an excellent offensive option. In 2011, he played 146 games for the Nationals, starting most of them as Adam LaRoche was injured and just played 43 games.
That season Morse posted a 303/.360/.550/.910 batting line with 31 home runs, 36 doubles and 95 RBI.
While he is no Josh Hamilton, with numbers like that Morse would be a fine silver medal for the Mariners.
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