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The Nationals are in a bit of a quandary. They're trying to convince Mr. Everything, Stephen Strasburg, to join their woeful franchise for something less than $50 million. Not easy when you're dealing with Scott Boras, who decided to open Rick Ankiel's negotiations with the entirely reasonable comparison between Ankiel and Babe Ruth.Washington is pursuing a trade for Pirates outfielder Nyjer Morgan, according to two sources late last night, including one source inside the Nationals' baseball operations.Those talks are back on, according to this Post-Gazette article, though it's not known if Stammen's on the block or there's a different player involved in discussions. Either way, as near as we can tell, making this trade would make the Pirates' best baserunner, like, one of the brothers LaRoche.*
The teams began discussing this eight days ago, and a Washington proposal in which the Pirates would get younger outfielder Lastings Milledge crumbled when the Pirates came back seeking Milledge and starter Craig Stammen.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Tough year to be a Pirate. First, Somalia… now, this.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Jun 27, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions
You sir…are a complete moron.
Did you say one true thing in that entire article? Nyjer Morgan is about to turn 29 years old and wouldn’t start on any team other than the Pirates or Nationals. Why would you not trade him for someone who is way better than him and has the chance to get even better.
Plus, Morgan may be the WORST baserunner on the Pirates. Have you ever even watched a Pirates game? He’s an idiot on the basepaths. Just because you are fast doesn’t make you a good baserunner.
Even if Milledge does what he’s doing now…and doesn’t "fullfil half his potential" he would still have a better career than Nyjer Morgan.
Give me a break. Talk about something you know a thing or two about, won’t you.
by nsn on Jun 27, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions
I’d have to agree with nsn, Morgan is just a fill-in player on the Pirates. He’s just filling a spot that is reserved for either Jose Tabata or Gorkys Hernandez. Morgan is indeed a fine defensive outfielder, but leaves a lot to be desired when running the bases, just look at his SB to CS ratio. At 29, he won’t be getting much better than he is now. If the Pirates can get Milledge AND Stammen (or another prospect) for Morgan, it will be the Pirates that fleece the Nats, not the other way around!
by gopiratesgo on Jun 28, 2009 12:35 AM EDT reply actions
The real question is why in the world Washington thinks Morgan would make much of a difference for them. He’s a complementary player, not someone you build around. I can’t think of one game this season where he was the difference between a win and loss (actually, I can think of one now, the one a couple weeks back where he hit a home run that provided 2 runs in a close game). But that’s exceedingly rare for him. Decent player, does enough to stick, but not great.
He does pick his nose very well, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDUWLdqEbvs
If Washington’s not building for the future, they need their heads examined, cuz it isn’t happening for Washington any time soon. Morgan won’t help them much in that respect.
That said, I don’t think Milledge will ever do anything so this would likely be a "lose-lose" trade scenario.
by proteusbass on Jun 28, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions
Morgan is a top 3 defensive OF in the majors, Milledge is a head case, advantage nats
by The Kid 14 on Jun 28, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
Name calling from the ill-informed, how entertaining. Lastings Milledge isn’t "way better" than anyone. Have you ever even watched Milledge play?
He couldn’t stay on the roster for the Nationals and has a .277 OBP in AAA. Stammen has been moved to the pen on the pitching-starved Nats and is a 5+ ERA pitcher in AAA and the majors. Advantage Bucs.
by MyBiznitchIsTheShiznit on Jun 28, 2009 8:51 PM EDT reply actions
I’d take Milledge over Morgan any day.
What you see is what you get with Morgan. Solid glove/range, no pop, fast. He does get on base, but he doesn’t really know how to steal bases.
Milledge, for all his character issues, still has an abundance of talent. Once (if) he wakes up and finally realizes that he also needs to put some work in to be successful, he should be ok.
Besides, even if he doesn’t, you can still off-load him for something better than Nyjer Morgan. Well, maybe for another year or two.
by msgg139 on Jun 29, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions
NSN, you’re right. especially with the baserunning skills….i mean, lack thereof. and whats this ankiel/ruth comparison BS? aside from their position changes, i dont see any other relation.
GO BUCS!
http://piratesproperty.com/
by Danica Dude on Jun 30, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions
Are you sure that they are worse than the Pirates
by rocky o8 on Jun 30, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions
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