Washington Nationals Trade Potential for Production: Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan to Pittsburgh Pirates for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jun 30, 2009 4:19 PM EDT
29 comments
Here's the press release:
WASHINGTON ACQUIRES OUTFIELDER NYJER MORGAN AND LEFTHANDER SEAN BURNETT FROM PITTSBURGH IN FOUR-PLAYER TRADE
The Washington Nationals today acquired outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-handed pitcher Joel Hanrahan. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
The 28 year-old Morgan was batting .277 (77-for-278) with six doubles, five triples, two home runs and 27 RBI in 71 games with Pittsburgh prior to the trade. Thanks to a career-high 29 walks and a .351 on-base percentage, Morgan has scored 39 runs this season, or two fewer than his career total in 86 games entering 2009. His five triples rank among NL (tied for second) and MLB (tied for third) leaders. Morgan departs despite pacing the Pirates in batting (.322, 66-for-205) against right-handed pitchers in 2009.
Morgan is blessed with the brand of speed that the Nationals were lacking both on the basepaths and in the outfield. Morgan currently ranks fifth in the National League with 18 stolen bases, and his eight swipes in June are just one less than the nine registered by Washington this month. Morgan played primarily left field for the Pirates. He currently leads all MLB left fielders in total chances per 9.0 innings and range factor per game.
Morgan’s patience (3.9 pitches seen per plate appearance) and batting eye (career-best walk ratio of one base on balls per 11.1 plate appearances) have both played a role in his breakout 2009 season.
Burnett, 26, was 1-2 with six holds, one save and a 3.06 ERA (11 ER/32.1 IP) in a team-leading 38 appearances for Pittsburgh at the time of the trade. A two-time (2001 and 2002) Pirates Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Burnett is 7-8 with 14 holds, one save and a 4.54 ERA (81 ER/160.2 IP) in 109 games (13 starts) spanning three big league seasons with Pittsburgh.
Burnett sports a .200 (22-for-110) batting average against in 2009, and has been nearly equally effective against left-handed batters (.189, 10-for-53, four walks) as those that hit from the right side (.211, 12-for-57, one home run). Burnett shifted exclusively to relief in 2008 and in 96 appearances since, has neutralized opposing left-handed batters with a stingy .178 (23-for-129) batting average against.
The Pirates’ No. 1 selection (19th overall) in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, Burnett is currently tied for eighth in the National League having allowed only four of 28 inherited baserunners to score. His .345 slugging percentage against is .067 better than the NL average of .412.
Milledge, 24, went 4-for-24 (.167) with one RBI and one walk in seven games with Washington this season.
The 27 year-old Hanrahan finished 0-3 with five saves (10 save opportunities) and a 7.71 ERA (28 ER/32.2 IP) in 34 appearances with the Nationals in 2009.
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Joel Sherman, of the NY Post, thinks the Pirates got the better end of the bargain. I think only time will tell; I’m glad Hanrahan is gone but I think we’ll miss Milledge… eventually.
by John Quinn on Jun 30, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sherman probably still defensive about the way Milledge was dealt out of NY
but i agree. Morgan’s a good defensive OF, but he’s 29 and probably in the middle of his peak season.
it seems a bad idea to trade potential to make this year’s team better.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jun 30, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think this deal was about getting Morgan as much as getting rid of Milledge.
I’m not a Milledge fan myself. I think you need cohesion in the club house and he doesn’t lean any.
by Berndaddy on Jun 30, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with berndaddy.
This was about getting rid of bad clubhouse presence. This leads me to think Dukes will be gone too. The Post article a few weeks ago seemd to say he doesn’t make the clubhouse too comfortable. I can’t remember the quote, but it was there.
See ya Lasto…We’ll see you and Hanny in Pittsburgh at the end of July.
I wish we could clone Willie Harris.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clone Willie, Clone Willie, Clone Willie, Clone Willie, Clone Willie, Clone Willie
I mean that in a good way…
by Berndaddy on Jun 30, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ahem, Post article?
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't it the Post? You remember don't you?
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just kidding, I thought you were referring to what Mr. Harlan said in my interview with him:
FB: There’s been considerable talk about Elijah Dukes’ presence in the clubhouse, and considerable coverage of how he’s been handled by the Washington Nationals, can one player, not even just Dukes in particular, really change the whole tone of a locker room?
Chico Harlan: You might think 25-man clubhouse sounds big, but it’s actually quite intimate. Nobody hides in a clubhouse. And for sure, Dukes has a presence — a physicality, an intensity, a desire — that makes him all the more visible. To be sure, though, Dukes doesn’t change the “whole tone” of the locker room; it’s not like the place would feel like some day spa if he were gone. Dukes doesn’t have many friends on the roster, though.
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
unfortunately, i agree with you
this is all about Rizzo bringing on another “good clubhouse” guy, albeit one with a little bit of talent. bottom line though: Morgan is a 4th OF on a good team, and he’ll be the Nats lead-off guy and CF.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jun 30, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah... appears to be a bad clubhouse for good clubhouse type of deal
I’ve never been high on Morgan, and if Milledge pans out, we could be hating this deal in the future. Still, I think being able to get rid of Hanny (even though I’m not real big on Burnett either) makes it more stomachable. Both Hanrahan and all of the fans trying to root for him (against our better judgment) needed a change of scenery for him.
Morgan has no upside, but he’ll at least bring a solid glove to the table. We can only hope that this deal is the precursor to a handful of other ones before the deadline.
by bluelineswinger on Jun 30, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is there a game tonight???
Had to go to MLB for the lineups…….
Harris out (LHP…), and Dukes back in CF batting 6th…..then the General and Nieves…..
"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
GameThread is up, spent day trade tracking...
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No problem here, ed...... It's those beat reporters that couldn't put up a note....
Game thread would have been blown up with comments, anyway…
"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Endy 4.0!
I mean, I’m not surprised this happened, but …man, whatever.
by Graysnail on Jun 30, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And he's a lefty, so can't platoon him with Harris.......
I wish we had Endy 1.0 back…… except for the destroyed knee…
"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, look what happens when I sleep!
Cant say im overly surprised. Lastro was traded probably for more than just baseball reasons. He has dropped off in the skills department despite being young and his attitude must have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. In many ways I agree with what ladson said a little while ago about him being put in a bad situation (being a leadoff CF when he just isnt), so I hope it works out for him elsewhere.
Hanrahan is just plain awful. Maybe he’ll come good again, but im not sure he will.
Overall, I think its a trade that will probably make little difference to both clubs. Maybe Morgan might help us in the next couple of seasons until we get a long term CF (and maybe that is part of this plan.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."
by Mezza on Jun 30, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Meaning of the Nats Trade By Thomas Boswell | June 30, 2009; 8:01 PM ET
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2009/06/the_meaning_of_the_nats_trade.html
"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“This is a trade you make if you want to make more deals before the August 1 deadline.”
"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boswell's got more errors in that post than a federal baseball diatribe...
…and they have editors…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last para is good thou
When you are traded from the Nats to the Pirates…its a wake up call.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."
by Mezza on Jun 30, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More from the trading front
Ladson dishing it like a kitchen hand
Rizzo is far from done in terms of making deals. He is looking for a starting shortstop. The Nationals feel that Cristian Guzman, who is on the trading block, has lost a few steps with his glove.
The Nationals are alarmed that Guzman is having a difficult time getting ground balls to his left.
Washington wants young starting pitching in return for Guzman, who has one year left on his contract.
The team doesn’t have to acquire a shortstop — at least for the rest of the season. It can go with Alberto Gonzalez, who was hitting .326 with a home run and 12 RBIs entering Tuesday.
The team is also looking to trade Dukes, and that may be hard to do because he comes with a lot of off-the-field baggage. Whom the club wants for Dukes is not known
"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."
by Mezza on Jun 30, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Trading Guzman is likely a good idea, as there are other options and he's not going to get any better.
Trading Dukes distresses me, and Ladson takes every opportunity to point out his past as if he’s screwing up daily……
Dukes has the arm, the bat and the dlove in RF, and I don’t see Willingham being worth it, Dunn or no Dunn. Ladson should just stick to harping on the DHs…
"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kinda my thoughts.
Guz has had his day and I think was a good buy in the end (despite doing nothing for a few seasons)… but we’ve got to get stronger up the middle defensively and he’s not going to do that anytime soon.
Dukes is a different prospect. I think most here would think he’s got potential to be outstanding player. But this is going to Rizzo’s form about clearing out the ‘Bowden Projects’… Milledge is gone. Dukes could be next. D Young is also likely… Cabrera… anyone seeing a pattern here?
"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."
by Mezza on Jul 1, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just feel like nobody is going to pay Guzman 8 million dollars next year...
Another huge Bowden contract failure. Guzman will be the Austin Kearns of 2010.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 1, 2009 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dukes...
Baseball is a game where you can only be successful if you are relaxed.
Even though Dukes seems to be ok this year compared to last year, we have no idea about the atmosphere in the clubhouse. I still get the feeling he’s a ticking time-bomb and his teammates know it too.
Under a Joe Torre or Scioscia or LaRussa, Dukes could flourish and be a great ballplayer. Playing for a manager he doesn’t respect, probably not. I don’t remember who the Nats gave to the Rays for Elijah, but I figure they can get at least that much if they move him.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 1, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
market for Dukes and Guzman
sadly, i don’t think there’s much market for either player.
every team has stat crunchers now that can do the math. everyone can plainly see that Guzman has the worst range of any SS not named Derek Jeter. someone competitive would have to have a catastropic injury to deal for Guz, and even then the Nats would get pennies on the dollar — AND have to eat a lot of the contract.
as for Dukes, his lack of production thus far this season will justify everyone’s decision to leave him alone for the “moral” issues, even though there hasn’t even been a hint of that in two years. there’s no doubt though that his surly attitude is less than welcome in the clubhouse.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jul 1, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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