Poll

Who would you rather keep?

Adam LaRoche
68 (60.7%)
Michael Morse
44 (39.3%)

Total Members Voted: 112

Author Topic: Morse or LaRoche  (Read 50779 times)

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Offline Tyler Durden

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #375: November 30, 2012, 04:18:30 PM »
Also, I expect Morse to hit at least as well as LaRoche next year.  Probably better.  The only question, at least in my mind, is how valuable was LaRoche in turning Desmond and the rest of the Nats infield into reliable defenders. 

Offline Ray D

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #376: November 30, 2012, 04:29:58 PM »
  The only question, at least in my mind, is how valuable was LaRoche in turning Desmond and the rest of the Nats infield into reliable defenders.

I think one factor that seems to be overlooked is how high a premium Rizzo puts on that.  With LaRoche, we have an elite or near-elite fielder at every position. Without him, we don't, and we don't not only at first, but putting a mediocre fielder at first base turns the rest of the infield into less than elite.   I'm expecting Rizzo to make a big push to sign him.

Offline Tyler Durden

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #377: November 30, 2012, 05:23:01 PM »
Rays and Mariners might make good trade partners for Morse.  Not sure how Morse's history in Seattle would affect a trade there.  Maybe Boston since they have no 1B. 

Offline imref

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #378: November 30, 2012, 05:41:17 PM »
I don't think Morse has much trade value, he's only under control for one more year, and is a below average fielder.  Best home for him is in the AL as a DH.   Tampa might be a decent fit.

I'd bet if we trade him, we get nothing more than a AA starting pitcher with a 3-5 slot rotation projection.

Offline imref

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #379: November 30, 2012, 05:42:40 PM »
Quote
I think one factor that seems to be overlooked is how high a premium Rizzo puts on that.  With LaRoche, we have an elite or near-elite fielder at every position. Without him, we don't, and we don't not only at first, but putting a mediocre fielder at first base turns the rest of the infield into less than elite.   I'm expecting Rizzo to make a big push to sign him.

i think we've seen the premium Rizzo places on fielding.

I'll go out on a limb - we resign LaRoche by Monday, 3 years, $35 million.

Offline Ray D

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #380: November 30, 2012, 05:43:23 PM »
  Maybe Boston since they have no 1B.

Boston is pursuing LaRoche.   

That raises an interesting dilemma: Do you trade Morse and then sign LaRoche or vice versa?  If you first trade Morse, it gives leverage to LaRoche.  But if you sign LaRoche, Morse's trade value decreases because we have to trade him.

Offline varoadking

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #381: November 30, 2012, 06:45:57 PM »
i think we've seen the premium Rizzo places on fielding.

I'll go out on a limb - we resign LaRoche by Monday, 3 years, $35 million.

I'd take that wager...

Offline ronnynat

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #382: November 30, 2012, 06:46:46 PM »
If we end up trading Morse to the Rays (they definitely need a 1B/DH), I really hope Jake McGee is included in the deal. He'd be a great 7th inning guy for us.

Offline blue911

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #383: November 30, 2012, 06:48:25 PM »
I'd take that wager...

LaRoche is spending the weekend playing golf with Davey Johnson.

Offline Kevrock

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #384: November 30, 2012, 06:50:04 PM »
:lmao: if the answer to this question ends up being neither, because Rizzo is content with

  • Trading for Span
  • Letting LarRoche walk
  • Trading Morse
  • Backfilling Morse with Moore

Ugh at these rumors.

Offline lastobjective

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #385: November 30, 2012, 06:51:00 PM »
:lmao: if the answer to this question ends up being neither, because Rizzo is content with

  • Trading for Span
  • Letting LarRoche walk
  • Trading Morse
  • Backfilling Morse with Moore

Ugh at these rumors.

I guess it depends on what we get in return, but yeah I think the "neither" option is kind of silly...

Offline varoadking

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #386: November 30, 2012, 06:51:20 PM »
LaRoche is spending the weekend playing golf with Davey Johnson.

I spent a weekend playing golf with Lou Pinella.  He never offered me a contract...

Offline blue911

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #387: November 30, 2012, 07:01:33 PM »
I spent a weekend playing golf with Lou Pinella.  He never offered me a contract...

Maybe because you weren't good enough?

Offline varoadking

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #388: November 30, 2012, 07:04:18 PM »
Maybe because you weren't good enough?

That can't be the reason...ya think?

Offline PANatsFan

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #389: November 30, 2012, 07:04:55 PM »
LaRoche

Offline blue911

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #390: November 30, 2012, 07:11:23 PM »
That can't be the reason...ya think?

Nah. Piniella's just a jerk

Offline Nathan

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #391: November 30, 2012, 07:20:12 PM »
It is not so much turning on him as saying how is his fit witht he Nats going forward and how can we maximize his value.  I think 90% of the board, including JCA, thinks the guy is a great person and enjoyed his time playing for the team.  I'd also guess there are many here who view the whole "ALR or Morse" issue as "choose between which of your kids gets sacrificed to Baal?"  Morse has a great personality and performed well here, and ALR, while quieter, was a legit MVP candidate in 2012. Nevertheless, if ALR can find a team to give him more years and money, I think most of us would say, good, you deserve the best.  And for Morse, when his name comes up in trades, its generally to teams we think should be interested in him because we think he is a good player to fill a position they need, regardless of the quirks of UZR. 

As for Morse being offered arb next year, I think it is based on an assumption that he'll put up a 3+ WAR year at first in 2013 so such an offer would be low risk.

Didn't we give Morse a contract that went through his arb years?

Offline imref

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #392: November 30, 2012, 09:30:16 PM »
anyone see Morse's post on facebook? 

Quote
Back from my honeymoon...what did I miss...been out of the country

Offline cmdterps44

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #393: November 30, 2012, 09:44:59 PM »
Dude is in a bad position.

Offline Slateman

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #394: November 30, 2012, 11:24:37 PM »
He's about to get paid 6.7 million dollars to play baseball. I think his position is fine. Especially since I think it would take a heck of a deal for Rizzo to deal A Ha's favorite player.

Offline Tyler Durden

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #395: December 01, 2012, 08:11:41 AM »
We did buy out all of Morse's remaining arbitration years. 

After this year, we have the option of offering the qualifying offer, whatever they decide that will be, to put him in the class of free agents that would require draft pick compensation if they turn down the qualifying offer and sign with another team.

Offline GSW

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #396: December 01, 2012, 09:39:01 AM »
Adam LaRoche, Michael Morse    :tomatoes:  Why not keep them both?

Mike can sub for all 3 outfielders and 1st base --- thats what about 60 games

He could be the DH for 10 more games. (and if anyone of those 4 go down)

OR is money the problem?   :$$$:

Offline Ray D

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #397: December 01, 2012, 09:47:37 AM »
LaRoche is spending the weekend playing golf with Davey Johnson.


Davey told him to make sure to bring his pen along with him. 

Davey definitely wants him back. But I wonder if that was before or after we got Span.  If it was after, then Davey is expressing a preference for LaRoche over Morse.

Offline lastobjective

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #398: December 01, 2012, 10:26:46 AM »
Adam LaRoche, Michael Morse    :tomatoes:  Why not keep them both?

Mike can sub for all 3 outfielders and 1st base --- thats what about 60 games

He could be the DH for 10 more games. (and if anyone of those 4 go down)

OR is money the problem?   :$$$:
More like Tyler Moore already does all that for $4.5 million less problem...

Hell I'd love to keep them both but I don't really see that happening.

Offline DPMOmaha

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #399: December 01, 2012, 12:04:36 PM »
I wonder if that was before or after we got Span.  If it was after, then Davey is expressing a preference for LaRoche over Morse.

It was after.