Not a fan at all of this one. Normally I'm pretty on board with this FO but this ones a little irritating.
This manages to make catcher an area of need and getting another 1B/RF/DH who is more expensive, 1 year contract, injury prone, older, year removed from his one good year, switching leagues, and swings at literally everything isn't the best bet. Well not literally but whatever. 3% walk rate, 21.7% SO rate. Jaso is a platoon player, but he also has far of more a defined spot than Morse likely will. Jaso's hit quite well 2 of the last three years at a much tougher position to find hitters. Of course not with great defense, but neither have many of the catchers the M's have paraded through in the past few years while having much less offense.
But maybe it'll work out. Maybe we'll pick up a catcher that can survive behind the plate and we'll be alright there. If Morse hits like he did in 2011 and can man RF a decent amount it'd be well worth it. Maybe we'll get a left handed pitcher to replace Vargas so that the Morales trade wasn't just swapping one problem for another. If Morales and Morse can hit, it'll take a lot of pressure off the other guys. Maybe it'll be alright.
But a defense containing Morales at first, Montero at catcher, and Morse in RF is pretty scary. Not that that would happen all the time, but likely two of the three would be in the field in your average game.
One interesting thing is that both Morales and Morse are on one year contracts. Possible we could get picks out of them if they leave or swing them at the deadline if we are looking out of the race.
If Montero, Morales, and Morse are mashing along with Seager, Saunders, and Smoak slugging good things could happen this year. And Ackley, Andino and uhh I'm gonna stop now.
Anyways I've somehow ended up feeling alright about this. Morse, Montero, and Morales bring some power. If Seager and Saunders can build on last year. If Ackley and Smoak can rebound (Smoak to a bigger degree). If Guti can not get bit by snakes. If we add a catcher and a LH pitcher.
Lots of if's but you never know, Oakland made the playoffs last year.