Fielder

[natsfan4evr]

a lot of people still seem to be expecting Morse to turn into a pumpkin... personally I'd feel a lot better about it if I knew we'd be playing him at first rather than shoe horning him back into left to make room for Buck Commander

Morse is legit...he just needed an opportunity to be a day-to-day player, and I'm glad we were the team to give him that.

[Tyler Durden]

The other side of the Werth deal is something that really hasn’t come up much since the signing, but is worth [sic] addressing in the midst of all of this.  No one was going to give Werth at his age near what the Nats did, especially length-wise and with a no-trade clause, a lopsided deal which greatly pleased Boras.  This was coming off of negotiations with Boras phenoms Strasburg and Harper, and I and others mused after those deals got done that a Boras-friendly quid pro quo bailout would be in the Nationals’ future as the price of getting two fair deals done.  Werth’s deal make more sense under that perspective, especially as the team sits on the sidelines while a player that fits the articulated team contention plan to a tee remains unsigned. 

Werth wasn't going to sign here unless he got that kind of a deal.  The Nats had zero leverage with any top tier free agents after a season where they won 69 games and were a whopping one year removed from back to back 100 loss seasons.

The extra year and $20 million was just the cost of doing business in that scenario.  The Nats aren't in the same turrible position any more.  If anything, the O's and M's would probably have to outbid the Nats by a year and $20 million for Prince to go to either one of those places.

[natspride]

i'm still going to give it another year before judging the Werth deal.  Despite his crappy year, he solidified a position that has always troubled us

Werth plays left field but he's far from solidified it.

[sportsfan882]

More bullcrap from unknown sources and no real news. yawn, wake me up when he signs with the Mariners or some other random bullcrap team.

[PebbleBall]

More bullcrap from unknown sources and no real news. yawn, wake me up when he signs with the Mariners or some other random bullcrap team.

Where?  I've been dying to read more bullcrap.

[HalfSmokes]

The other side of the Werth deal is something that really hasn’t come up much since the signing, but is worth [sic] addressing in the midst of all of this.  No one was going to give Werth at his age near what the Nats did, especially length-wise and with a no-trade clause, a lopsided deal which greatly pleased Boras.  This was coming off of negotiations with Boras phenoms Strasburg and Harper, and I and others mused after those deals got done that a Boras-friendly quid pro quo bailout would be in the Nationals’ future as the price of getting two fair deals done.  Werth’s deal make more sense under that perspective, especially as the team sits on the sidelines while a player that fits the articulated team contention plan to a tee remains unsigned. 

Aside from all the ethical violations you are talking about, I can't imagine an agent would sacrifice his relationship with two of his best young clients in order to get a better deal for another one. Harper and Strass aren't that stupid, and boras isn't the only voice they hear, if he advised an extension or free agency contract that is below what they deserve because of Werth, do you think they wouldn't figure it out?

[Rasta]

Fielder last year...

.299/.415/.566 - 38 HR/120 RBI - .981 OPS/164 OPS+

Morse

.303/.360/.550 - 31HR/95 RBI - .910 OPS/147 OPS+

Fielder probably had a lot more RBI opportunities with the offense in MIL.  Fielder's OBP over the last 3 years is over .400.   Fielder is also 2 years younger and has the proven track record. 

[imref]

1B UZR/150: 2011

Morse: -8.2
Fielder: -5.2

I'm really surprised by this, I expected that Morse would have been the far better fielder.

[Ray D]

1B UZR/150: 2011

Morse: -8.2
Fielder: -5.2

I'm really surprised by this, I expected that Morse would have been the far better fielder.

Why? Would Fielder be the better Morse?

[CatsEye]

Aside from all the ethical violations you are talking about, I can't imagine an agent would sacrifice his relationship with two of his best young clients in order to get a better deal for another one. Harper and Strass aren't that stupid, and boras isn't the only voice they hear, if he advised an extension or free agency contract that is below what they deserve because of Werth, do you think they wouldn't figure it out?

 Do you really thing it is that clean-cut in sports? Do you really believe there is not a form of "politics" in sports? Do you really believe that deals are not made that favor one player over another?   Would they (the players) figure it out if they were pawns for a bigger deal? That's like saying that the Montreal Expos got a fair deal from the Baseball Commis. and the other owners, on the splitting(split-out) of the team..........alledgedly....... 

[Five Banners]

Aside from all the ethical violations you are talking about, I can't imagine an agent would sacrifice his relationship with two of his best young clients in order to get a better deal for another one. Harper and Strass aren't that stupid, and boras isn't the only voice they hear, if he advised an extension or free agency contract that is below what they deserve because of Werth, do you think they wouldn't figure it out?

Don't know where you got that Stras and Harper were taking below what's deserved; I'm talking about relationships between owners and agents and how things can manifest, something which even Boswell and other media people have pointed to and extrapolated on potential deals that made sense more for one side than the other, as in the almost unending speculation last year that Carlos Pena would end up here more because it was a Boras client fit than an upgrade for us.

[Tyler Durden]

Why? Would Fielder be the better Morse?

Exactly.  And what we need Prince to do is to change his first name to Center.  Then all boxes will have been checked this offseason.

[aspenbubba]

Werth wasn't going to sign here unless he got that kind of a deal.  The Nats had zero leverage with any top tier free agents after a season where they won 69 games and were a whopping one year removed from back to back 100 loss seasons.

The extra year and $20 million was just the cost of doing business in that scenario.  The Nats aren't in the same turrible position any more.  If anything, the O's and M's would probably have to outbid the Nats by a year and $20 million for Prince to go to either one of those places.

I said something similiar a year ago and amortized the higher cost of Weths' deal at something over a million more a year on what would have beeen the second highest offer he received. It was conjecture on my part as we never knew who the next highest bidder was or the amount. I think I said that if it didn't work it would affect future mega  FA contracts.

[imref]

Why? Would Fielder be the better Morse?

www.instantrimshot.com

[Ray D]

Exactly.  And what we need Prince to do is to change his first name to Center.  Then all boxes will have been checked this offseason.

Almost.  Better to change his middle name to Center and his first to Leadoff.

[Minty Fresh]

More bullcrap from unknown sources and no real news. yawn, wake me up when he signs with the Mariners or some other random bullcrap team.

Again, you're showing a lot of concern in this thread for a guy who doens't care.

ASSCLOWN.

[MorseTheHorse]

Fielder last year...

.299/.415/.566 - 38 HR/120 RBI - .981 OPS/164 OPS+

Morse

.303/.360/.550 - 31HR/95 RBI - .910 OPS/147 OPS+

Fielder probably had a lot more RBI opportunities with the offense in MIL.  Fielder's OBP over the last 3 years is over .400.   Fielder is also 2 years younger and has the proven track record. 

Morse was intentionally walked 5 times last season to Fielder's 32.  This accounts for over half of the difference in OBP (if my math is correct?). 

[HalfSmokes]

Do you really thing it is that clean-cut in sports? Do you really believe there is not a form of "politics" in sports? Do you really believe that deals are not made that favor one player over another?   Would they (the players) figure it out if they were pawns for a bigger deal? That's like saying that the Montreal Expos got a fair deal from the Baseball Commis. and the other owners, on the splitting(split-out) of the team..........alledgedly....... 

Do you really think Boras risks his license and his livelihood over double dealing clients? I realize everyone likes to talk about how the lerners have some special relationship with him, and quid pro qou and all of that, but boras isn't an aau hustler, he's the best and most high profile (and most watched) agents in sports

[Ray D]

The sports-agent industry is infested with inherrent conflicts of interest.  Suppose for example that Fielder had been a free agent a year ago instead of this year. Boras would have been peddling both him and Werth to the Nats, knowing that he could unload only one of them on us.

[HalfSmokes]

The sports-agent industry is infested with inherrent conflicts of interest.  Suppose for example that Fielder had been a free agent a year ago instead of this year. Boras would have been peddling both him and Werth to the Nats, knowing that he could unload only one of them on us.

There is a huge difference between an inherent conflict and actually double dealing clients (i.e help me out on werth and I'll repay you when Strass or Harper is ready for free agency that Boz seems to imply). You could probably get away with it with minor leaguers and bench bats, but when it comes to the superstars that boras represents, that gets a lot harder, especially when loosing bids usually leak

[Ray D]

when it comes to the superstars that boras represents, that gets a lot harder, especially when loosing bids usually leak

But there are no losing bids for draft picks.

[HalfSmokes]

But there are no losing bids for draft picks.

Strass was already signed, and Harper didn't give them any bargain- besides a $126 million favor for a few million on a $10 million draft pick?

[Tyler Durden]

Morse was intentionally walked 5 times last season to Fielder's 32.  This accounts for over half of the difference in OBP (if my math is correct?). 

Without having checked your math, since I'd probably just make it more wrong if it is wrong, this is an excellent point.

Having another good hitter in the lineup, whether it's LaRoche or Fielder, should help Morse maintain his offensive output.

[JMW IV]

I'd like to not have to pick between Fielder and Morse.

[The Chief]

I'd like to not have to pick between Fielder and Morse.

This.