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Report: Kendrys Morales, Pirates have 'mutual interest'

Kendrys Morales hit .277 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs for Seattle in 2013. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Kendrys Morales hit .277 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs for Seattle in 2013. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

There is "mutual interest" between the Pittsburgh Pirates and free-agent slugger Kendrys Morales, The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported on Sunday. According to Cafardo, the Pirates would like to sign him, but only under what they deem the right amount.

From the report:

There’s mutual interest, but while the Pirates would love him on the right contract, they may also pursue a first baseman via trade. There are a few possible candidates, including the Mets’ Ike Davis, Toronto’s Adam Lind, Texas’s Mitch Moreland, and even Seattle’s Justin Smoak and Boston’s Daniel Nava and Mike Carp.

Both Morales and the Pirates have had relatively quiet offseasons, with the Pirates making few moves and Morales not seeing much interest.

The 30-year-old Morales hit .277 with 23 homers, a .336 on-base percentage, and a .449 slugging percentage in 156 games with the Seattle Mariners last season. But he only started 31 of those games at first base. The Pirates would be forced to surrender a first-round pick for Morales, who declined a one-year qualifying offer from the Mariners earlier this offseason.

CORCORAN: Mariners should re-sign Morales >