Kendrys Morales

[SeattleCoug]

I think its fair to make a thread about this because it makes to much sense.

With Hart out at least 6 weeks and possibly longer there is a huge hole at DH. Even with Hart the DH position has produced a .201 avg (13th in the AL), .287 OBP (12th) and .327 SLG (14th). No question the M's need Morales IMO or some outside help unless you think Montero or Lomo when healthy can step in.

If I understand correctly June 8th is the date where other teams can sign him without losing a draft pick. Meaning the M's have essentially a 2 week window to negotiate with him when other teams probably wont. I understand that Boras is the biggest hurdle but with Drew signing this week, I figure it may be possible Morales signs soon too.

 

[cezero]

http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/...l-ms-smart-go-after-morales-aggressively.html

i'd be willing to bet that if texas or any other team matches what the m's offer, he'll go there instead.

this front office is full of dipshits, though, so they probably won't even bother.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Oops didnt scroll down far enought to see that.

Texas is interesting. I guess it depends on if they want to be buyers or sellers. They have had an enormous amount of injuries so they may pass on him if they fall out of it in the next few weeks.

 

[seahawksfan234]

With Fielder getting season ending surgery, it would only make sense for the Rangers to make a run at Morales. I'm sure Morales would much rather play for the Rangers.

 

[dude82]

I think its fair to make a thread about this because it makes to much sense.

With Hart out at least 6 weeks and possibly longer there is a huge hole at DH. Even with Hart the DH position has produced a .201 avg (13th in the AL), .287 OBP (12th) and .327 SLG (14th). No question the M's need Morales IMO or some outside help unless you think Montero or Lomo when healthy can step in.

If I understand correctly June 8th is the date where other teams can sign him without losing a draft pick. Meaning the M's have essentially a 2 week window to negotiate with him when other teams probably wont. I understand that Boras is the biggest hurdle but with Drew signing this week, I figure it may be possible Morales signs soon too.

They've had an 8 month window to negotiate with him since the end of last season and they haven't been able to get a deal worked out even though they were willing to bring him back for $14.1 million back in November. My guess is that the team's inability to sufficiently replace Morales' production since that offer was made, combined with the Prince Fielder injury in Texas, isn't going to compel Boras to take a deal that was probably more enticing when he rejected it the first time than it would be now. If the M's want Morales, my hunch is that they'll have to go much higher than that $14.1 million (or at least a prorated portion of a number much higher than the prorated portion of $14.1 million he'd get if that's the number he signs for) to get him, even if another team might not have to go as high to get him in a couple weeks because he likes the situation there better.

My question to all of you, then, is this: Is what Morales offers at the plate (because he ain't playing first base) really worth potentially making him the third highest paid player on the team? For that high a price, is his bat going to be enough to improve this offense from where it is now to where it'll need to be to make them serious contenders for a playoff spot? Keep in mind that he's probably gonna have to play some minor league ball after he signs to get back his timing against live professional pitchers and may only be of use from July onward. He played well for us last year and I liked the idea of bringing him back in the off-season and all the way up until the end of Spring Training, but the longer this drags out, the less enticing it sounds to me.

 

[SeattleCoug]

My question to all of you, then, is this: Is what Morales offers at the plate (because he ain't playing first base) really worth potentially making him the third highest paid player on the team? For that high a price, is his bat going to be enough to improve this offense from where it is now to where it'll need to be to make them serious contenders for a playoff spot?

I understand they had an 8 month window. Believe me I wasnt on board like most others up until the Hart injury. Now there is a need and a spot for him where as there wasnt a week ago. I dont think it will take 14.1 mil, probably sometime close to what Drew got.

Plus correct me if I'm wrong but the Hart injury is saving the club over $4 mill in incentives because he definitely isn't reaching his needed playing time for that now. I think we all the know the money is there if ownership wants to spend it. I don't think Morales is a difference maker that puts them in the World Series but would I take him over Romero and Franklin at DH? Well Duh! For once this club isnt completely buried at the end May so it would be nice for them to make a move to improve the club.

 

[johnfree63]

My question to all of you, then, is this: Is what Morales offers at the plate (because he ain't playing first base) really worth potentially making him the third highest paid player on the team? For that high a price, is his bat going to be enough to improve this offense from where it is now to where it'll need to be to make them serious contenders for a playoff spot? Keep in mind that he's probably gonna have to play some minor league ball after he signs to get back his timing against live professional pitchers and may only be of use from July onward. He played well for us last year and I liked the idea of bringing him back in the off-season and all the way up until the end of Spring Training, but the longer this drags out, the less enticing it sounds to me.

I say sign him. Right now Seattle is only 1 game out of the playoffs. If you sign him now he'd be back by mid June. That means you still have half the season left. It's worth the risk.

 

[cezero]

The value of having a professional hitting behind Cano is more than most people on here understand, I guess.

Hart is pure garbage from the bargain basement, and that's what we have hitting behind Cano. And maybe LOGAN FUCKING MORRISON will be next. Goodie.

The only thing better than Morales would be a righty SS or Outfielder with comparable offensive numbers, and there simply aren't any available right now. To get anything like that from another team before the trade deadline, the M's will have to trade good pitching, which I'd be fine with if it were a competent front office, but ours isn't.

And why would anybody care about him being the "3rd highest paid player" on the team? The M's front office doesn't care that they're spending 55% of their total payroll on 2 players, and then supplementing it with garbage free agents and treating the rest of the lineup like glorified AAA development. Real baseball fans understand that you're not going to build a contending team by supplementing those 2 mega-contracts with the dog shit FA they've gotten combined with the farm.

This is all moot, though, because I really doubt that Morales will be coming here, even if the feckless front office tries to make it happen.

 

[NWinAZ]

And why would anybody care about him being the "3rd highest paid player" on the team? The M's front office doesn't care that they're spending 55% of their total payroll on 2 players, and then supplementing it with garbage free agents and treating the rest of the lineup like glorified AAA development. Real baseball fans understand that you're not going to build a contending team by supplementing those 2 mega-contracts with the dog shit FA they've gotten combined with the farm.

Hart is pure garbage from the bargain basement, and that's what we have hitting behind Cano.

I don't have a problem with this signing. Yes he hasn't been the Hart of old, but he was worth the risk and signings are a risk. I don't think signing him kept M's from signing someone else. I just hope he rebounds, but I agree 100% we need a legit MLB bat behind Cano.

Good stuff.

 

[cezero]

I don't have a problem with this signing. Yes he hasn't been the Hart of old, but he was worth the risk and signings are a risk. I don't think signing him kept M's from signing someone else. I just hope he rebounds, but I agree 100% we need a legit MLB bat behind Cano.

Good stuff.

Oh, I agree it was worth the risk for the price. I think it's just time to move on. Hart's OPS+ is okay, really. But this kind of upgrade just makes sense. We'll see what happens.

 

[wazzu31]

Can anyone name one negative thing if they got Morales back? I think it would be silly if fans would think it's a negative that they spent money so I honestly can't think of one thing.

 

[seahawksfan234]

Can anyone name one negative thing if they got Morales back? I think it would be silly if fans would think it's a negative that they spent money so I honestly can't think of one thing.

From a baseball perspective, bringing Morales back only makes sense. He was our best hitter last year and the Mariners have pure garbage at DH right now.

From the Mariners FO perspective, Morales represents ~$10m of money that they don't want to have to spend.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I don't have a problem with this signing. Yes he hasn't been the Hart of old, but he was worth the risk and signings are a risk. I don't think signing him kept M's from signing someone else. I just hope he rebounds, but I agree 100% we need a legit MLB bat behind Cano.
Good stuff.

I had no problem with the Hart contract. Essentially half guaranteed and the other half incentive based. Now that he's hurt he likely wont see the other half. Definitely worth the risk.

With Morales I see no risk either. Your not signing him to a 5 year deal. Just a 1 year flier for a guy who can play a position of need. This team has no serious internal options at DH.

 

[wazzu31]

From a baseball perspective, bringing Morales back only makes sense. He was our best hitter last year and the Mariners have pure garbage at DH right now.

From the Mariners FO perspective, Morales represents ~$10m of money that they don't want to have to spend.

But even from a normal FO perspective it makes way more sense to spend that money on a hitter than millions on a closer especially when they already had one serviceable one. This organization has really stunk at developing anything outside bullpen arms.

 

[NWinAZ]

From the Mariners FO perspective, Morales represents ~$10m of money that they don't want to have to spend.

I don't to make my house payment each month either, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I know what you are saying, but I am just saying they are cheap arse bastards and they have the money times ten to spend. They irk me!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kcden]

I don't know why we are discussing the possibility of bringing Morales back. I still think there is a 0% chance of it happening, even if the M's front office made it a priority.
If he was going to sign, he would have signed before the season. He's already cost himself roughly $5 million waiting it out until any team can sign him without penalty, why would he cave and come back to an organization he is obviously not interested in now?

 

[cezero]

I don't know why we are discussing the possibility of bringing Morales back. I still think there is a 0% chance of it happening, even if the M's front office made it a priority.
If he was going to sign, he would have signed before the season....

Nah.

Nobody, including the M's, would offer him a multi-year contract for $25+ mill. That's what he and Boras were after. They were hoping somebody would get desperate enough to do it before the June draft. Given his age and the fact that he's pretty much only a DH whose ankle is made of glass, I don't blame him for thinking long-term.

It was a gamble, and we'll see if it pays off for him. I doubt it will. He'll probably get $9-10 mill like drew for the remainder of this season, and then be in the same situation next year.

 

[kcden]

I don't think it will pay off for him. I think he literally did cost himself $5 million. But someone will sign him. It just won't be the Mariners, even if they're offering the most money (which they probably won't be).

 

[NWinAZ]

Nah.

Nobody, including the M's, would offer him a multi-year contract for $25+ mill. That's what he and Boras were after. They were hoping somebody would get desperate enough to do it before the June draft. Given his age and the fact that he's pretty much only a DH whose ankle is made of glass, I don't blame him for thinking long-term.

It was a gamble, and we'll see if it pays off for him. I doubt it will. He'll probably get $9-10 mill like drew for the remainder of this season, and then be in the same situation next year.

M's did offer him 3/$30M at end of last season and he turned it down.

 

[kcden]

Anyone know how the determination of draft pick compensation actually works?
i.e. after missing the first two months of this year, will he not be considered a "Type A" free agent next year (or whatever it is now called)?