Scott Boras believes the Pittsburgh Pirates are a "perfect fit" for his client and free agent first baseman Kendrys Morales, according to Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Kendrys Morales rumors: Scott Boras calls Pirates ‘the perfect fit’
Scott Boras thinks Kendrys Morales and the Pirates should work out a deal.
Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
The former Mariners first baseman has seen his market dry up this offseason after turning down Seattle's qualifying offer back in November. As with other free agents like Nelson Cruz and Ervin Santana, teams who are reportedly interested in Morales seem reluctant to part with a top draft pick.
But that hasn’t stopped Boras from declaring that the Pirates would be a suitable landing spot for his client.
“We have the perfect fit for the Pirates,” Boras said on Tuesday. “The Pirates are a team where my client could play very well. ... In terms of the club wanting to know (contract terms), we’ve talked.”
As it stands, the Pirates have Gaby Sanchez, the team’s first baseman for parts of 2013, slotted into the first base role. Journeyman Chris McGuiness is set to be Sanchez’s backup in Pittsburgh.
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It is unclear exactly where Morales will end up despite what Boras says. The Mariners have been rumored to be interested in their former player, while the Orioles, fresh off inking Ubaldo Jimenez to a four-year deal, might have an interest in Morales as well.
The 30-year-old switch-hitter batted .277/.336/.449 for the Mariners in 2013, slugging 23 home runs and compiling 80 RBI. Morales has been healthy for two straight seasons after suffering a gruesome leg fracture while celebrating a walk-off home run as a member of the Angels in 2010.
The Cuban native missed the last four months of the 2010 campaign and all of 2011 while working his way back from the injury. He returned in 2012 and hit .273/.320/.467 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI for the Angels. Since the injury, Morales hasn’t quite been able to replicate the 34 home runs and 108 RBI he finished with during his first full major league season in 2009.
Where Morales ends up playing in 2014 remains a mystery, even if Scott Boras believes it should be in Pittsburgh. Considering how reluctant teams have been to forfeit a draft pick for free agents this winter, Morales and Boras might be waiting well into spring training before finding the right deal.
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