Nationals give 1B/OF Morse extension

Baseball Betting Lines

01/20/2012 - Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals agreed to a multi-year contract extension with first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse on Friday, avoiding salary arbitration.

Morse, 29, batted .303 with 31 home runs and 95 RBI in 146 games last season with the Nationals and became just the fourth qualified National to hit .300 since the franchise moved to D.C. prior to the 2005 season.

He was acquired by Washington from the Seattle Mariners on June 28, 2009 in exchange for outfielder Ryan Langerhans.

In three seasons with Washington, Morse has belted 49 home runs and has driven in 146 runs to go with a consistent .295 batting average in 276 games.

The deal assures that the powerful righty will be a mainstay in the middle of a potent Nats' lineup which includes former All-Stars Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman, and could see the emergence of super-prospect Bryce Harper in 2012 to go with an up-and-coming middle infield tandem of Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa.

Over seven major league season with Washington and Seattle. Morse is a career .296 hitter with 69 doubles, 52 home runs and 183 RBI in 383 games.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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