Team acquires Michael Morse in three team deal
Staff Writer
Joe Henrickson

It’s been a busy off-season this year for the Seattle Mariners. After finishing with the lowest number of runs scored for the third consecutive season, General Manager, Jack Zduriencik needs to get offense.

For a number of years the Mariners tried to build the organization in a way that suited the pitcher friendly Safeco Field. Now, after back to back last place finishes in the American League West, the M’s front office is taking drastic measures to make change.

One of those changes is to alter the dimensions of the outfield fences. The Mariners hope that by bringing in the fences and making the park more balanced for hitters that they would be able to attract more free agent hitters.

Beginning the off-season, the biggest name on the free agent list was Josh Hamilton. The Mariners were very hopeful in landing the slugger when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim swooped in and made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse.

Since that time the Mariners have checked in on every free agent and every player available in trade that there were possible. They even made a deal with the Arizona D-backs to get Justin Upton that was later rejected because of Upton’s No-Trade Clause that allowed him to veto any deal with the Mariners.

We’ve signed Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, Jeremy Bonderman and made trades for Kendrys Morales and now Michael Morse. Morse has spent the last four seasons in the Washington Nationals uniform. There he became an everyday player and has posted some pretty decent stats.

In 2011 he had an incredible year, hitting a .303 AVG, with 31 home runs and 36 doubles in a total of 146 games. Last year he got less playing time appearing in 102 games he still hit for a .291 AVG with 18 homers and 17 doubles.

Morse may not be the answer to all the Mariners woes, but he will help. He’s a big guy at 6 foot 5 and 245 pounds and as a right handed hitter he should put the new dimensions of Safeco Field to the test right away.

John Jaso was acquired last year by the Mariners from the Tampa Bay Rays. Immediately he became a fan favorite hitting game winning hits on multiple occasions for his new team and a new sense of life to an otherwise dead team.

For many, Jaso was a real hero in last year’s miserable season. Now he’s gone, riding off into the sunset of Oakland, California to join the A’s.

This isn’t the first go around for Morse in Seattle. He became a Mariner in a trade that sent former Mariners Ben Davis and Freddy Garcia to the White Sox for him, Jeremy Reed and Miguel Olivo.

Now he’s back and in a recent conference call he said he always felt like he had unfinished business here in Seattle and he was excited to be back.

This trade is definitely going to get mixed results from fans, but the first time Morse hits a ball over the left field wall for a home run, nobody will remember what the M’s had to give up to get him.

Spring Training is right around the corner and we will all get to sit back and watch how this team is constructed. Two things we know for sure, Mike Morse will be on the opening day roster for the Seattle Mariners and John Jaso will not.