Marlins officially announce signing of free-agent 1B Michael Morse to 2-year deal
The Miami Marlins officially announced the signing of free-agent first baseman Michael Morse to a two-year deal worth $16 million Wednesday afternoon.
Morse will join fellow offseason acquisitions Dee Gordon and Mat Latos for an introductory event Friday at Marlins Park.
The Nova High School graduate hit .279 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI in 131 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2014. He drove in two of the three runs during the decisive Game 7 of the World Series. In 10 postseason games, he batted .300 (6 for 20).
Morse, who turns 33 in March, is a career .281 hitter with 99 home runs and 333 RBI in 704 games with four teams. In 2011 as a member of the Washington Nationals, he hit a career-high 31 homers with 95 RBI.
In 10 seasons, Morse has appeared in 146 or more games just once (2011). But playing first base rather than outfield should help keep him healthy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Gordon, a 2014 All-Star second baseman, to the Marlins as part of the Andrew Heaney deal during Winter Meetings. The Cincinnati Reds traded right-hander Mat Latos on the final day of Winter Meetings for prospect Anthony DeSclafani and minor-league catcher Chad Wallach.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
