Washington Nationals: throwing some respect at Michael Morse

Looking through the lore of Washington Nationals history one name should appear more than it does. Time to give Michael Morse to much-deserved props.

I don’t know if I would call Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Morse a journeyman major leaguer. He did spend thirteen years in the big leagues and played for six teams during that time so one could make the argument.

If one city were to claim Morse as their own it should be Washington, and Nationals fans need to embrace him for what he did for them. Sure, he won a World Series with San Francisco, but he became an established player in the nation’s capital.

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Acquired for Ryan Langerhans in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in 2009, Morse really didn’t become a regular in the Nationals lineup until 2011. He announced his presence with authority however and the 2011 team was his. He led the team in all major offensive categories and belted 31 home runs while playing an air-tight first base.

Adam LaRoche took over at first base in 2012 and Morse moved to the outfield permanently, a position he had split time at the year before. Injuries limited his production, though he was able to hit 18 home runs and hit a respectable .291. His 2012 season is most remembered for his pantomime performance of a grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Morse helped the Nationals to their first division title since the team left Montreal. He added a home run in the division series though the Nats bowed out losing in five to the Cardinals.

As quick as he was there, he wasn’t. Michael Morse was traded in the offseason back to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal which netted the Washington Nationals A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen.

Morse played for a handful of teams after that as the injury bug continued to bite. His career was permanently jeopardized when he came to the defense of Hunter Strickland in a brawl in 2017.

Michael Morse did not have a spectacular career in Washington, but he was a vital part of the team changing the course of their history. He came to town joining a losing franchise and he left with them a winning one.