Is He Werth the $126 Million?

Nats Break The Bank - With baseball now entering its hot stove stages of the offseason, a chess match breaks out as teams begin shifting their pieces in hopes of a title run. Coming into this year's Winter Meetings held in Orlando, Florida, pitcher Cliff Lee and outfielder Carl Crawford were among the bigger names available via free agency. But with the ridiculously large amount of cash the Washington Nationals dished out to outfielder Jayson Werth, one would think otherwise. Filling the void of the All-Star slugging Adam Dunn who agreed to terms with the Chicago White Sox, Werth inked a 7-year deal worth $126 Million dollars, joining Barry Zito and Alfonso Soriano as one of the biggest over payed contracts in recent years.

Although neither Soriano(8-years, $136M), or Zito(7-years, $126M) have lived up to their lucrative contracts thus far, at least both players had seasons somewhat worth the money they were given, prior to signing their deals. This is in no way, shape, or form a bash on Jayson Werth, but rather the Nationals organization for spending an absurd amount of money on a player simply not worthy of it. After all, Werth just signed on the dotted line as I'm sure anyone would. Being named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2010, Werth benefited from playing in a hitters ballpark and hitting alongside offensive juggernauts such as Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard among others.

To his defense, Werth, who had arguably his best season in the Majors, did tend to shine brightest this past season when Philadelphia endured a handful of injures which included former MVP Jimmy Rollins, and the aforementioned duo of Utley and Howard who is also a former MVP. But at age 31, it would be hard to argue Werth hasn't already peaked. However, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo and skipper Jim Riggleman would argue that his better days are yet to come. Then again that's obvious, given how much money they've invested in him. Whether or not that's true, the Nationals will have their man locked up for many years to come until the 2018 season.

Although Werth will experience a decrease in talent, leaving a team that has won four consecutive NL East pennants for a ball club that has placed last in three straight seasons, the Nationals do have a star in third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and have yet to see what last year's first overall pick and phenom -- Bryce Harper is capable of at the big league level. Not to be forgotten is the first overall pick of 2009's Draft, Stephen Strasburg who will miss all of next season due to Tommy John surgery. With all that taken into account, the future looks very bright for the Nationals organization.

What the deal does for the rest of remaining 2011 free agents yet to sign, only adds dollar signs to their wallet. With all due respect, if Werth can make Zito-like money, I'm convinced Crawford can make Soriano-like money. But above all, it sets up Albert Pujols who's seeking an extension from the St. Louis Cardinals, that I'm guessing will range somewhere near A-Rod territory (10-year, $275 Million).

Major League Throw Down

Continuing the downward spiral that is Nyjer Morgan's 2010 season, a benches clearing brawl ensued between the Florida Marlins and the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Front and center of the fracas was none other than Morgan himself who charged the mound after being thrown at by Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad for the second time in the game. The first bean ball was in retaliation for what took place the night before when the Nats' center-fielder collided at home plate with Florida's catcher Brett Hayes in what many believed could have been a more sportsmanlike manor and more importantly avoided if Morgan had slid. After the unnecessary collision that resulted in a separated shoulder for Hayes, Morgan was called out, failing to score the go-ahead run.

Before the dust-up occurred, Morgan took the first bean without glancing to the pitchers mound and trotted to first base, knowing it was only a matter of time before he was hit. It was then that Morgan did the unthinkable, breaking one of baseball's unwritten rules. Down 11-runs in a 14-3 ball game, Morgan stole both second and third base. The Marlins felt the move was disrespectful which caused for a second bean ball, this time sailing behind the back of Morgan. Morgan, who spent his earlier years on a Hockey rink playing in the Western Hockey League, rolled up his sleeves upon rushing the mound and threw a punch at the head of Volstad which eventually missed. Marlins first-baseman Gaby Sanchez then clotheslined Morgan, causing both teams' benches and bullpens to clear. Once the dust settled, Morgan walked away with his jersey open and his arms held high shouting at the Florida crowd as some several thousand fans watched from the stands.

This all comes after a series of events that has stained Morgan's 2010 season. First the incident during Interleague play in May when Morgan failed to catch a ball in centerfield at the wall, slamming his glove to the ground and throwing a temper tantrum in the process. Morgan mistakenly thought the ball had skipped off his glove and bounced over the fence for a home run. Instead the mishap was shown on highlight reels across the sporting world and resulted in an inside the park home run for Baltimore's Adam Jones. And just a week prior to the melee that took place at Florida's Sun Life Stadium, Morgan threw a baseball into the stands at a crowd of heckling fans in Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, hitting a fan in the head...The wrong fan. Morgan was given a seven game suspension for the incident, which he is currently appealing.

However, the episodes don't end there. Less than a few days later in a series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Morgan ran into catcher Bryan Anderson at the plate, despite not having the ball. Morgan missed home plate and was called out. The following day, Nats manager Jim Riggleman sat Morgan to avoid an incident similar to the one that recently took place, saying "If he [Morgan] was out there, they would've thrown at him." Morgan now finds himself in even hotter water with the most recent situation. "I'm a hard-nosed player, I'm grimy and if it happened again, I'll do it again." Said Morgan in an interview after the game in the visiting clubhouse. If Morgan does decide to "do it again", it'll cost him big. Sources say an undisclosed fine is expected to hit Morgan along with the eight-game suspension he was issued earlier today for his actions.

In my opinion, it was a relief to see the league step in and regulate given the circumstance that it was almost obvious Morgan was out there playing to hurt someone. The guy clearly has problems and hopefully the punishment issued will serve as much more than a slap on the wrist, or it's back to the hockey rink for Morgan where he'll be able to drop the gloves and fight whenever and whoever he feels like.