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Morales surprised by return to Mariners

By WTOP Staff

SEATTLE (AP) — When Kendrys Morales returned to Seattle earlier this month as a member of the Minnesota Twins, he said that he’d “moved on” after his one season with the Mariners.

On Friday, he moved back in.

Morales, who turned down larger offers from Seattle last winter and eventually signed with Minnesota as a free agent, was reacquired in a trade Thursday.

Wearing jersey No. 21, Morales was batting fourth as the designated hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

“It caught me by surprise,” Morales said through an interpreter. “It sort of came together quickly. It’s a surprise and I’m glad to be here.”

The Mariners traded minor league pitcher Stephen Pryor to get the 31-year-old Morales. They hope that he can bolster their slumping lineup.

“I just want him to be a stabilizer, drive in runs, good at-bats, productive at-bats,” Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I can tell you this, he’s not going to be overwhelmed by any situation. He’ll be a nice piece to have in our lineup.”

Morales hit 23 home runs with 80 RBIs last year in his one season with the Mariners. He then turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer and became a free agent, and also rejected other overtures this year from Seattle.

Morales finally decided to sign with the Twins on June 8.

“I made the decision last year to be a 100 percent free agent and I don’t feel bad about the decision,” said Morales, who has been represented by agent Scott Boras.

Morales did not deliver what the Twins had hoped. After missing all of spring training and two months of the season, he was immediately thrown into the lineup and hit just .234 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 39 games.

Morales said that his time with Minnesota served as a kind of spring training. He believes that he’s rounding into shape.

“I’m getting a few more at-bats under my belt,” he said. “I’ve been playing better lately and swinging the bat with a little more authority.”

Morales is also getting a chance to play in more meaningful games. The Mariners are in the middle of the AL wild-card race while Minnesota is last in the AL Central.

In his first game since rejoining the Mariners, Morales batted after Robinson Cano and ahead of fellow All-Star Kyle Seager.

“It’s huge,” Seager said of the acquisition. “You have another impact bat in the middle of your order.”

McClendon said Morales’ arrival will give him more flexibility in the lineup. He’s considering switching Seager from the No. 5 spot to No. 2, ahead of Cano and Morales.

“I’m comfortable wherever,” Seager said. “Once you’re in the batter’s box, the order doesn’t really matter. Obviously, hitting in front of a guy like Cano, you’ll be pitched a little differently. At same time, it’s still kind of all the same.”

The Mariners rank 14th in the AL with a .244 batting average and are ninth in home runs.

“It’s good when organization feels that way about you,” Morales said of his return. “I felt very comfortable with my time here last year and with this team, and am going to feel even more comfortable this year.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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