The Seattle Mariners trade Brandon Morrow to the Blue Jays
The Mariners have traded 25-year old righty reliever/starter Brandon Morrow to the Blue Jays for 26-year old righty reliever Brandon League and a prospect who is yet to be named. Morrow pitched in 26 games (10 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 2-4 with 6 saves, a 4.39 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. In three years with the Mariners, Morrow pitched in 131 games (15 starts) in which he was 8-12 with 16 saves, a 3.96 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. The Mariners never seemed to figure out what role to use Morrow in. That won’t be a problem with Brandon League who is a reliever all the way. He pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 3-6 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. In his six years with the Blue Jays, League pitched in 168 games (0 starts) in which he was 7-10 with 2 saves, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. I’m thinking that the prospect the Mariners are going to get back in this trade will be a good one as Morrow is a better pitcher than League is.
UPDATE: The Mariners have acquired 20-year old righty swinging outfielder Johermyn Chavez to complete this trade. He was not one of the top 30 prospects in the Blue Jays’ system heading into the 2009 season but he had the best year of his career. Chavez played in 134 games in A-ball last season and he was 144 for 508 (.283 avg, .820 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 21 homers, 89 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He did whiff 137 times last season so he has some holes in his swing but he is really improving as a hitter. He has played in 335 games in four years in the minors and he is 311 for 1,191 (.261 avg, .747 OPS) with 175 runs scored, 34 homers, 167 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.
Good luck with League. He was an absolute loser. We was king of the blown save. We would have traded him for five pounds of coffee, but will take Morrow as he hopefully has some upside.
Morrow has a huge upside Bob. His problem has been staying healthy as I really like this trade for the Blue Jays.
i think the cliff lee trade is beginning to make sense now. everyone questioned how the M’s got Lee for so little, however i’m sure this move was the completion of the three way trade between the phils, jays and M’s. it just took a little longer for the Jays and M’s to agree on prospects in this portion of the deal.
League is an incredible pitcher. Hes had his control problems, but when he is on his game, he is unhittable. he throws a 96+mph fastball with huge movement, and an incredible splitter that is impossible to make contact with. he has top-flight closer stuff, dont let his ERA etc. fool you. if he gets the chance to pitch on a regular basis for the Ms, he will be a great closer… he was also very unlucky last year.
and the prospect the Ms are getting is a good one, just not one you’ve heard of. im very sad to see League go.
Joe Knows…..what you say makes a lot of sense as Morrow could likely have net the Mariners way more than what they got from the Blue Jays for him. We will see about League…bosh. He always has had great stuff but he appears to be lost on the mound quite often. Maybe the Mariners can coach him up like they did with David Aarsdma last season.