If not, I wouldn’t give him away just to be relieved of the potential headache. I’d at least try to manage through it by finding him 2 starts a week plus some PHs.

Btw, I hope the Nats start to downplay the ‘World Series or bust’ talk. It seems like that just gets people rooting against you.

What will Rizzo end up doing? I think this is clearly different from the Lannan situation last year, where he coudl be banished to Syracuse and called up when needed. Morse would be sitting on the bench every day, stewing, trying to put on a good game face, trying to play the part. I think it’d just be too tough. Would it theoretically make the team/bench better? Absolutely … if Morse can produce in this part time role. What if he can’t? What if as it turns out he’s an awful part time player and just stinks as a pinch hitter? I can’t find pinch hitting stats on b-r.com off hand to prove/disprove this theory.

Personally, I think you have to move him. You just don’t want to mess with the chemistry of a team by having a disgruntled guy around 100% of the time. All the scheduled backups/scrubs for 2013 know their roles, have accepted them, and that makes a huge difference in chemistry. Plus, Morse is an incredibly valuable trade chip! Why wouldn’t you trade him for parts that this team absolutely needs? Right now, despite how good this team’s core 15 players look (8 positional players, 5 starters, two primary relievers) we clearly have needs for left handed relief pitchers and backup starters. Why not just put a memo out to teams and say: “give us your best trade deal involving these two players and we’ll trade you Morse.”

But should that be Rizzo’s primary responsibility? To me, I think it is a balance, but putting the best team out there, within his payroll restrictions, has to trump the player’s best interest, no? If we got an offer that makes sense, I’d trade him but unless that happens, I think he could be very valuable and still get 400 ABs even without an injury (while being a hedge against an injury at several spots, too). I see it similar to Lannan last year, although better for Morse than it was for Lannan. If the Nats are willing to pay for the expensive back up/insurance, I think it makes us a lot better.

Btw, is Rizzo running a really tight ship, or what? All three of his big offseason deals came out of the blue with no public leaks. The guy is really getting the hang of this GM thing.

The Yankees have question marks the Red Sox are definitely weaker. I don’t think the O’s will repeat. Toronto on paper looks tough and I think they made all the trades they did because they see this year as a good year to contend. The Rays should also be in the mix. They can trade Price in before 2014 so I’d keep him this year.

Too much to give up for the Nat’s in a year where you can argue they are the best team in the NL already.

I can understand the desire to keep Morse but if I was to guess I would think in his walk year to FA Morse would rather be traded.

Baseball to us is a game and a wonderful diversion but to players like Morse it is their job and they have a very limited career.

Unless there is an injury to one of the starters I don’t think Morse can get enough AB’s. Even if you send Moore down playing backup and having Bernadina in the mix makes it very difficult.

I like Morse and if I didn’t think the Nat’s had a very good chance to win a WS I probably would have kept him over ALR. I think Rizzo is correct that ALR and now Soriano give this team the best chance to make the playoffs and maybe even go further.

I dunno; its awful hard to trade for an established Ace.