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The Miami Marlins are approaching what appears to be an imminent signing of free agent first baseman Garrett Jones. Jones, a 32-year-old lefty first baseman with a career .254/.316/.458 (.333 wOBA) batting line, appears slated to play first base for the Marlins for the next two seasons. Thus, the Fish appear ready to replace their incumbent first baseman, 24-year-old lefty Logan Morrison, with the older, more powerful version of himself.
Morrison, a career .249/.337/.427 (.333 wOBA) hitter, seems destined to be dealt, and a number of teams may be interested. Miami has already heard from potential suitors in the GM meetings, including the Milwaukee Brewers. The Marlins are "likely" to trade Morrison according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
Source: Marlins will "likely" look to trade Logan Morrison now that Garrett Jones signing is imminent.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 6, 2013
You have to sort of question Miami's motives with this move. Morrison is the younger of the two players and has the better upside, so why would Miami opt to sign someone more likely to do worse than Morrison to replace him at first base? Morrison has previously gotten into spats with the franchise, most notably in 2011, when the franchise demoted him shortly after he missed a non-mandatory team photo op earlier in the day. The team has also attempted to silence LoMo's significantly boisterous and entertaining Twitter account, which has previously gotten him into media trouble.
But Morrison's biggest crime is his work on the field. As a former top prospect, he has failed to live up to the hype and has been oft-injured enough to cause Miami concern. Still, one would think a team on the rebuild would opt for Morrison's youth versus Jones's sure-fire mediocrity, so it remains to be seen what Miami will spin from a potential Morrison trade.
Stay tuned here at Fish Stripes for all the details on this transaction and more.
