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Washington Nationals: Top Five All-Time Non-Waiver Trades

By Ricky Keeler

Jun 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo (L) looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo (L) looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals
Oct 21, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Morse hits a RBI single against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning during game one of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

June 28, 2009 – Michael Morse

Back when the first trade involving Morse happened, the Washington Nationals were 26-51 and in last place in the NL East. Meanwhile, the Mariners were three games back in the AL West (39-36) and looking for some help in the outfield.

One week before the Morse trade, Endy Chavez collided with shortstop Yunieski Betancourt and ended up having to miss the rest of the season due to torn ligaments in his knee. So, the Mariners ended up trading Morse to the Nats for Ryan Langerhans, who at the time was at triple-A Syracuse. He hit .212 in his two seasons with the Nats (2007-08).

When the Nats got Morse, he was hitting .312 with ten home runs and 42 RBI’s to go with a .372 on-base percentage in the Pacific Coast League. While he didn’t get much Major League playing time in 2009, he ended up being a key player in the offense two years later.

In 2011, Morse hit 31 home runs and drove in 95 runs and finished in the top ten in batting average (.303), RBI’s, OPS (.910), and slugging percentage (.550). After the 2012 season, Morse went back to Seattle in a three-team deal in which the Nats got A.J. Cole, Blake Treinen, and Ian Krol from the A’s.

As for Langerhans, he only played 38 games with the Mariners and hit a mere .218 with three home runs and ten RBI’s. During his time in Seattle, Langerhans hit .200 with nine home runs and 20 RBI’s over three season.

So, for this trade involving two players who got a change of scenery while in triple-A, the Nats got the better end of the deal with Morse, who ended up blossoming in the Nation’s Capital.

Next: Number 3

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