182 replies to this topic

[Halo Fan]

Apparently 10+ teams are rumored to have expressed interest, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Orioles, and Mariners.  The Nationals are apparently looking for pitching or pitching prospects.  Am I crazy to think the Dodgers should throw their hat in and try to make this deal?  I know the common responses to this are, "Where would he play?"  "The Dodgers OF is full, and Adrian Gonzalez is playing first."  "How would he get his ABs?"  Well, let's examine the situation.

Crawford is a huge question mark, possibly missing the start of the year and potentially needing some days off throughout the season.
Ethier has had a pretty glaring platoon split, and he's been rumored to possibly be available for trade.
Kemp had nagging injuries all last season.
Morse is versatile, in that he can play 1B, possibly spelling A-Gone once in a while.
Interleague play still exists, so he could get some ABs at DH.
Then there is always the long-shot, shot-in-the-dark, darkhorse dream scenario...they could have him taking reps at 3B in hopes that he could reenter the infield and plug their 3B hole.

The Dodgers have lots of decent pitching prospects, and even some Major League starters who are blocked, so they could deal from their depth.

Just thinking out loud (or silently in online text).  Thoughts?

[baltimore_boy]

I personally would love to see Morse head to Baltimore. His versatility is what has really made him attractive. He could plug in nicely at 1B for the O's and shift Davis back to where he should be, DH. Also, the Nats say they want pitching and the O's still have the disappointing 3 of Arrieta, Matusz, and Britton. I can definitely see a deal centered around Matusz and Morse with maybe a few other players mixed in. The Nats need a lefty specialist, and Matusz thrived as that at the end of last year.

[parrothead]

I would love to see Morse in San Diego, I know it wont happen but its time to start to put an offense together and get people excited about this team.

Trade for him and put Venable where he belongs as a 4th OF move Gyorko to 2B and let him play.  With that, I think you start to have a pretty good team.

OF: Maybin, Morse and Quentin
IF: Alonzo, Headley, Gyorko and Cabrera
C: Hundley until Grandal's 50 games suspension is served.

To me thats not bad and of our top dozen or so prospects over half are pitchers.

[Brewcrewfan]

He intrigues me, but has to get traded for me to take him

[baltimore_boy]

If he really is going to Seattle, that basically kills his fantasy value.

[Timmah!]

Quote

FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Mariners have acquired Michael Morse in a three-team deal that will send John Jaso to the Athletics and A.J. Cole to the Nationals.
The Nats will also reportedly get two additional prospects in the deal in addition to Cole, who they have re-acquired after trading him last winter. Morse, who is under contract for $6.75 million in 2013 before hitting free agency, became expendable after the Nats traded for Denard Span and re-signed Adam LaRoche. The 30-year-old has batted .297/.343/.515 with 49 homers over the last two years for Washington. He'll slide into a corner outfield spot.

So, he's a Mariner.  As a dynasty owner, this was NOT the place I wanted to see him land.  Tougher league that he'll need to adjust to, cavernous home ball park (with another in the division), and expectations that he'll still slug like he did in Washington.

What kind of projections do we see for him?

[jsp2014]

his fantasy value was higher as a backup on the Nats.

[Red Sox Nation]

Timmah!, on 16 January 2013 - 07:35 PM, said:

Quote

FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Mariners have acquired Michael Morse in a three-team deal that will send John Jaso to the Athletics and A.J. Cole to the Nationals.
The Nats will also reportedly get two additional prospects in the deal in addition to Cole, who they have re-acquired after trading him last winter. Morse, who is under contract for $6.75 million in 2013 before hitting free agency, became expendable after the Nats traded for Denard Span and re-signed Adam LaRoche. The 30-year-old has batted .297/.343/.515 with 49 homers over the last two years for Washington. He'll slide into a corner outfield spot.

So, he's a Mariner.  As a dynasty owner, this was NOT the place I wanted to see him land.  Tougher league that he'll need to adjust to, cavernous home ball park (with another in the division), and expectations that he'll still slug like he did in Washington.

What kind of projections do we see for him?

Well they are bringing the fences in for whatever that is worth. Still will be a bad park for power, most likely. Probably will knock out 20-25 as opposed to 25-30.

[BigPapi44]

Any report what the starting catching situation is now in Seattle?  I wouldn't want my starters throwing to Montero.

[klove42]

BigPapi44, on 16 January 2013 - 08:19 PM, said:

Any report what the starting catching situation is now in Seattle?  I wouldn't want my starters throwing to Montero.

It should be monteros job until their other top catching prospect is ready. So probably montero all year

[K.Heart]

I guess this makes him a road only start...

[Red Sox Nation]

klove42, on 16 January 2013 - 08:43 PM, said:

BigPapi44, on 16 January 2013 - 08:19 PM, said:

Any report what the starting catching situation is now in Seattle?  I wouldn't want my starters throwing to Montero.

It should be monteros job until their other top catching prospect is ready. So probably montero all year

Zunino will be up around mid-season if he keeps mashing like he did last year. Montero would then move to a db/1b type of role, playing dh more often.

[BigPapi44]

Montero behind the plate, doesn't give me much confidence in calling a game/managing the running game.  To me that knocks some of their SP's down a bit.

[PRoSPx]

baltimore_boy, on 16 January 2013 - 07:35 PM, said:

If he really is going to Seattle, that basically kills his fantasy value.

Seattle is determined to bring in an OF upgrade aren't they?Seattle is a rough place to hit.

[ironmike128]

Morse played with a number of nagging injuries which brought down his 2012 stats. He was really good in 2011 when he played 146 games. If he proves to be healthy, then I can see him acheiving moderate success in Seattle. If Morales, Montero and Morse all stay on the field, they could be a very productive middle-of-the lineup in the AL.

My projections:  140 games, .296 AVG, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 28 2B

[AnonymousRob]

K.Heart, on 16 January 2013 - 09:06 PM, said:

I guess this makes him a road only start...

Hardly. They're bringing in the fences. That should help. They've also got some decent to good bats hitting around him. This offense could easily surprise people and be middle of the pack or better. Seattle's defense should be a trainwreck but most leagues don't count errors. I could see Morse falling too far and him becoming a good value pick.

[PRoSPx]

Seattle is bringing in the fences? Anyone know what the new dimensions will read?

[Timmah!]

PRoSPx, on 18 January 2013 - 10:01 AM, said:

Seattle is bringing in the fences? Anyone know what the new dimensions will read?

Fangraphs just ran article assessing the deal today, and discussed that briefly. The feeling is that bringing in the fences should be perceived as moving the park closer to Neutral, but still somewhat pitcher-friendly.

We'll need a full season to get a true feel for any difference, though.

[parrothead]

PRoSPx, on 18 January 2013 - 10:01 AM, said:

Seattle is bringing in the fences? Anyone know what the new dimensions will read?

So Safeco and Petco are doing similar moves but on opposite sides of the park.

Safeco one of the deepest points is in left center field where it kind of curves out a bit, they are going more direct route to CF point and at the biggest shortened spot you are seeing a 12-foot decrease in dimensions at that point, other spots like straight away CF and some others are like 4-5 feet in from last year, lines remain the same.  Petco is doing similar but in RF, RCF deepest part will come in 12-feet other spots will decrease 4-5 feet similar to Safeco.

[PRoSPx]

Honestly I think all teams should arrange their fences yearly to give them an advantage based off of the team they have at hand.