The teams began discussing this eight days ago, and a Washington proposal in which the Pirates would get younger outfielder Lastings Milledge crumbled when the Pirates came back seeking Milledge and starter Craig Stammen.
One of the sources said the teams plan to continue to talk, mostly because the Nationals are eager to have Morgan as a leadoff man.
I know Nyjer Morgan is a valuable defensive player and all, but I'd gladly take a chance on Lastings Milledge's upside if the Nationals offered him. I don't understand why Craig Stammen would hold up a trade on either end--why the Pirates would demand him, or why the Nats would refuse to give him up. He's already 25 and has never pitched particularly well above Class AA.
Milledge has a history of attitude issues and would probably just end up frustrating the Pirates, but he's only 24, has tools galore, and hit competently as a full-time big leaguer last year. Morgan won't be part of the next good Pirates team, and I don't see any obvious reason to hold onto him if the Bucs can get someone with Milledge's upside in return.