Mike Morse To Fill Left Field Void
The Giants have signed free agent outfielder Mike Morse to a one-year $6MM contact.
Giants signed Morse.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2013
Deal is pending a physical. Michael Morse and Gregor Blanco: that's your LF plan.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2013
It's a one-year deal for Morse with the Giants. Had a lit of competition from Astros. Wrist injury hampered power last year.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2013
The Giants look at Morse as an everyday guy. Had to pledge that kind of role to sign him, given other interest.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2013
Mike Morse was the guy Bruce Bochy wanted. He's the everyday left fielder, and could play some 1B too.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2013
Morse has power when he’s healthy and in 2013 hit 13 HRs for the Mariners before being traded to the Orioles. He will be an offensive improvement for the Giants but likely not as fast defensively as Blanco or Perez.
Get this: #SFGiants got 5 HRs from LF last year, fewest in MLB. Next lowest were Marlins, Jays at 10. #MorseCode
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2013
Morse is 31 years-old, 6’5 and 245 pounds and is called “The Beast.” He has a nine-year career in the MLB, playing for the Mariners, Nationals, and Orioles and holds a career batting average of .281 with 83 home runs.
On August 30, 2013, Morse was traded by the Mariners to the Orioles. He had only three hits in 29 ABs for the Orioles after he informed them he had a left wrist injury. The injury required post-season surgery. He was also out with a quad injury and a fractured finger earlier in the season.
From 2010 to 2012 with the Washington Nationals, Morse hit .296 with 67 home runs and a .861 OPS. The Giants are hoping he can return to form in 2014.