Now that the Nationals have seemingly resolved who will be the next manager in Washington, namely former Arizona third base coach Matt Williams, the front office must now turn their attention to improving the roster for a World Series chase in 2014. Although resolving who will be the 4th starter and acquiring some depth for the bullpen are likely the top priorities this winter, the Nationals must upgrade their bench before arriving in Viera next spring.
Currently the Nationals reserves are shaping up as Scott Hairston as the 4th outfielder and some combination of Jeff Kobernus, Steve Lombardozzi, or Zach Walters serving as the team’s utility infielder. This construction leaves one or more open positions on the bench, with the primary need being a power hitter who can play first base. On the surface, a left-handed hitter might be more beneficial as a pinch hitter in the late innings (think Chad Tracy), but perhaps a right-handed bat might compliment Adam LaRoche and give him the occasional day off against a lefty starting pitcher.
Given the present construction of the roster and the fact that I am a complete sucker for any rock band doing a Reunion Tour, the best person for the Nationals to target to help bolster their bench would be former fan-favorite, Mike Morse.
Morse, aka Beast Mode, was acquired from Seattle and flourished in Washington to become a strong leader in the locker room and one of the most popular players in team history. In fact, his walk up song, A-ha’s classic “Take On Me” in still played somewhat in homage to Morse each night during the 7th inning stretch. His leadership and powerful right-handed bat might be just the type of shrewd signing that helps the Nationals reach the postseason next fall.
Coming off a poor 2013 in his last year before free agency, Morse struggled in his return to Seattle, batting .226/.283/.410 before an August trade to Baltimore. Once an Oriole, Morse was pitiful, hitting .103/.133/.103 over 29 at-bats before being shut down for the season with an injured left wrist. Now 31-years-old, Morse recently underwent surgery on his wrist, and with a projected 6-8 week recovery period, he is expected to be fully healthy in time for spring training.
Morse does not enter his first round at free agency in a prime position, coming off a subpar season and recovering from offseason surgery, but Morse’s jaw-dropping right-handed power will still attract suitors this winter. A poor defensive outfielder and a below-average base runner, the value in Morse lies almost entirely in his hitting prowess. Morse is a career .281/.334/.473 batter who hits right-handed pitching (career .802 OPS) nearly as well as left-handed pitching (career .819 OPS) and has averaged a home run every 22.4 at-bats for his career. Certainly his extensive list of injuries is a concern, but when healthy, Morse is an extremely productive, above-average major league hitter.
I envision Morse filling the role as a “Super-Sub” for the Nationals, a player in line for 275-350 at-bats, collecting 125-175 at first base, 50-75 ABs as a late-inning pinch hitter, another 50-75 ABs as the designated hitter in interleague play, and an additional 25-50 ABs in the rare instances he plays the outfield. Certainly this number could increase for Morse if injuries arise to LaRoche or Bryce Harper, both of whom are recovering from recent surgeries. Assuming he can stay relatively healthy and the Nationals do a reasonable good job maximizing his opportunities, Morse could be quite an asset off the bench next season.
Considering the expected large salary arbitration increases for Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann, the National’s payroll could face a possible squeeze this winter. That said, the Nationals bench was unacceptably poor last season, and the front office must overhaul this area of the team prior to next year. He may receive larger offers in free agency, but if general manager Mike Rizzo can convince Morse to return on a 1-year deal worth $2.5-$3.0 million, with some incentives, I believe the Nationals should pounce on the opportunity to bring Beast Mode back to Washington.