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The second a new car is driven off the lot, it loses a significant amount of its initial value. And the same tends to be true for Major League Baseball players who show that they are struggling to be consistent at the Major League level.
Consider the following: your team's first baseman in 2010, his first year in the league, hit a promising .283 and drove in 18 runs while getting on base at a .390 clip. His sophomore year, in 123 games, he batted .247 while driving in 72 runs and getting on base at a .330 clip. In just 93 games in 2012, he hit .230 with driving in exactly half the number of runs he did the previous year. And in 2013, the athlete posted a .242 average and for the second consecutive year, drove in 36 runs.
Miami Marlins first baseman Logan Morrison has been the epitome of inconsistent. Since making his major league debut, he has struggled to remain healthy, and a breakdown of his basic statistics reflect that. The Marlins have not been competitive since Morrison has joined the team, however hitting either in front of or behind Giancarlo Stanton, that shouldn't be an excuse.
Morrison was selected in the 22nd round of the 2005 amateur draft. Very few late round draft picks tend to be productive, although there are exceptions. After quickly working his way through Miami's minor league system, he was thought to be a key piece of the organization's future. A converted outfielder, Morrison was thought to be the team's first baseman of the future.
Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are first baseman that could be built around. Despite a decline in his numbers, Albert Pujols has proven that a team can be built around him.
At the General Managers meetings, Ken Rosenthal tweeted that several teams are interested in the left-handed infielder:
Sources tell me and @jonmorosi that #Marlins are drawing significant trade interest in Logan Morrison. No deal close, Marlins listening…
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 15, 2013
Morrison has been troubled by knee injuries throughout his baseball career, but last season he was particularly healthy, and there was yet another drop in his offensive production.
Earlier this week, we learned that free agent Mike Napoli, a Pembroke Pines native, wouldn't mind signing with Miami.
Source: #Marlins have discussed Napoli internally and could enter mix at right price. Napoli is South Florida native and good friends ...
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 26, 2013
...with #Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis. Is signing of Napoli likely? Not if he has better options. But Marlins could play on certain FAs.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 26, 2013
Even if the Marlins can't do enough to lure Napoli, they should still continue to listen offers on Morrison. He won't be a free agent until 2017, and Miami might be able to get a key piece or pieces back.
Morrison also has a history with Miami's front office. The organization has never been content with how frequently and what he Tweets, and in 2011 Morrison filed a grievance against the team after he felt he was demoted because of his use of social media.
Whether a trade is a realistic possibility remains to be seen. But Miami should consider trading in their used car for a new one.
