Jays Trade Brandon League, Acquire Brandon Morrow
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 7:54 AM EST
in Toronto Blue Jays News
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PrintKen Rosenthal reported last night that the Jays traded sometimes-brilliant, occasionally-frustrating pitcher Brandon League to the Seattle Mariners for sometimes-brilliant, occasionally-frustrating pitcher Brandon Morrow. The Jays also included a "prospect" in the deal but we don't know who that is - although according to MLB Trade Rumors, it should be someone pretty good to make it a fair deal.
Morrow, the 5th overall draft pick in the 2006 draft, was rushed to the majors, as per Seattle's organizational philosophy and made the team's opening day roster in 2007 as a reliever. He has made a few starts since then, but things have kept pushing him back into the bullpen - from the acquisition of Erik Bedard to various arm problems to his own erraticness. His pitching for the past three seasons has been marked by respectable overall numbers other than sky-high walk rates, which have really hurt him. There's no doubt that there is significant upside in Morrow - the walks are a huge problem but at 25, there's still a chance Morrow can put it behind him. Morrow is eligible for arbitration. It's hard not to like someone with a career 9.3 K/9 at 25, but there's also a significant history of arm problems. I really hope the Jays make him a starter this season and just leave him there - if the Jays trade League and one of their top prospects for a reliever I won't be happy with the deal.
As for League, he put up fantastic peripheral numbers last year (3.6 K/BB and a strong groundball rate) but they didn't translate into a good ERA. I'm pretty sure it was just bad luck - a reliever's ERA isn't a very good indicator of true performance because the sample size of innings is too small and a reliever's ERA is very dependent on the pitching of others (since they often leave or enter in the middle of an inning). The surfing Yonsei is one of just a few pitchers I have seen who I would say are truly one-of-a-kind. I would have liked to just stick League in the closer's role in 2010 and let him run with it, with Downs and Frasor likely to leave after this season, but if the Jays think they can make Morrow into a starter and didn't give up too much else in the deal, I'm okay with him leaving. I won't be surprised if League has a fantastic season for the Mariners though, and becomes a key piece of their bullpen in a season in which they hope to contend. League is under team control through 2012.
Ultimately, this deal will come down to who the prospect is, and we'll update as soon as we know (or feel free to do it for us in the comments, as well as let us know what you think of the deal)
Leaguer, if this is it, it's been fun having you on the Jays. You often amazed, occasionally frustrated with your crazy sinker and constantly morphing mechanics. Your tattoos gave hope to Asian-Americans everywhere that they could be thought of as cool. Good luck and enjoy the West Coast!
Update: Jays outfield prospect Johermyn Chavez was the prospect included in the deal. Chavez had a very nice season last year in A ball but is still a ways off from the majors.
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I hope it isn’t Cecil or Chefczynski. Its probably Purcey or Mills, or Scott Richmond. And Morrow has some of the filthiest stuff I’ve ever seen. 95mph heat, great slider, good curve, and a nice split/straight change, but control has really been his problem.
HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM, I PRESS DOWN MAH GUNS!
that's interesting
I’d heard so-so things about his secondary pitches. When I’ve seen him, he’s looked like he had a nice slider, but it was in relief so that was the only other pitch I’ve really seen.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 9:33 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Seriously are you an idiot or what?
ERA isn`t a good indicator because of sample size? That would explain Mariano Rivera`s a horribly mediocre guy with a career ERA of 2,25 right? Idiot if anything the peripheral stats mean less because of sample size. My god all u seem to see`s K`s/ BB`s which is incredibly miopic as none of the crucial stas work in his favour. Wins to losses, Saves to blown saves and largely gis BAA and ERA SUCK!! He had two good seasons and in those he pitched only 43 and 33 innings respectively. Morrow`s BAA is .223 compared to .258 he has more K`s over the same kind of sample size and he`s better in close situations…Buh bye League..don`t let the door hit ya
You seem to lack understanding of statistical analysis
Also, you seem to lack understanding of statistical analysis. In the case of relief pitchers, one season’s worth of ERA is not very valuable because of a few factors:
1. As hugo mentioned, the reliever’s ERA often depends on other pitchers doing a good (or lousy) job of stranding the runners he allows. Consider this: League enters a game with runners on second and third, none out and strikes out the side to bail out the previous pitcher. In the next inning, League strikes out another two batters and allows a texas leaguer before his pulled. The next pitcher immediately gives up a run-scoring double but gets out of the inning before that runner scores. In this situation, League was clearly the best pitcher of the three, yet is the only pitcher credited with an earned run. For starters, over the course 200 innings, these kinds of things tend to even out, but they don’t always in the 60 innings that relievers pitch.
2. Because relievers only pitch 60 innings, one very bad appearance can have a drastic effect on ERA, but really only cost the team one game.
Finally, peripherals are preferred to “the crucial stats” (as you call them) because they are the things over which a pitcher has the most control. As a pitcher, there is not much more you can do besides pound the zone, miss bats and induce grounders. Amongst relievers with 60+ IP, League was 10th in the Majors in Grounder/Fly-ratio and 11th in Whiff-%, while keeping himself 9th in BB/9. His xFIP, which was 10th in the Majors, suggests that he should have an excellent season in 2010.
As far as Mariano Rivera, guess who was 1st in K/BB (League was an extremely respectable 11th), so I fail to see how showing that Rivera’s ERA was any better of an indicator of his performance than his K/BB-ratio.
"Look at me! I'm Tomokazu Ohka of the Montreal Expos!"
Mature post
You’re an idiot because you don’t agree with me and I’m right about everything.
Awesome. I’m going to try that at work today with my boss.
you have my sympathies
it must be hard to be unable to disagree with people without calling them names.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
as for your comment
it is entirely irrelevant. Of course ERA is a meaningful stat, and of course any pitchers career ERA amassed over a long period of time is useful. The point is that one season of a reliever’s ERA isn’t by itself conclusive as to how well or poorly the pitcher pitched. Batting average against for one season of relief appearances is, if anything, even more suspect. There just isn’t a big enough sample size. Of course you look at those things, but you also have to look at the peripherals. It’s not as if we’re making this stuff up — K and BB rates have been much more strongly correlated with future success than ERA over a 70-inning sample size, particularly for relievers.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
Still wonder...
…if it might be Overbay instead.
Some Seattle fans are talking as if it’s Drabek or Snider. Not a chance. It won’t be anyone in the Halladay deal. My thought is Overbay, JPA or Cooper.
Bahaha On MLBTraderumors some commentators are speculating Snider, Drabek or Wallace.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
seattle times writer confirmed it is NOT Wallace…phew (but still waiting to hear who it is before there is a complete sigh of relief)
That's a relief
I’m holding out hope for Arencipia or Cooper or even Dopriak or Purcey.
by masterkembo on Dec 22, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
I just realized
someone named Brandon got traded for someone else named Brandon.
HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM, I PRESS DOWN MAH GUNS!
HAHAHAHA
too funny i was just trying to find if that has ever happened before…this could be a monumental trade if it’s the first time 2 Brandon’s were traded for eachother.
Johnny Mac
Wasn`t Johnny Mac traded for himself a few years back… He went to the tigers for PTBNL, and it turned out he was the PTBNL
Who was traded for a steak dinner?
I think a strike shortened the season after the trade happened which screwed up sending a PTBNL, so one of the GMs paid for the other’s dinner to even things out.
They're not just hitting home runs. They're doing the little things, like hitting doubles.
let it not be Zach Stewart
i really want to see him as a starter with us.
Cameron thinks it may be Stewart
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
Interesting comparison I pulled off the comment section of MLBtraderumors.com
From Bretwk near the bottom of the comments…
23-24 yrs old, 3.83 ERA, 7.6 H/9, 9.4 SO/9, 4.0 BB/9 (through first 195 innings)
OR
22-24 yrs old, 3.96 ERA, 7.4 H/9, 9.3 SO/9, 5.8 BB/9 (though first 197 innings)
The 1st pitcher is Lincecum, the 2nd pitcher is Morrow.
pretty huge difference, though
2 extra walks per nine innings is a ton
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
that is true...
however if he can show a little more command the thought of having a tim lincecum-esque pitcher in our rotation is pretty awesome!
Meh traded one pitcher with control issues for another pitcher with control issues. I thought Morrow had potential to be a dominant closer, but then Seattle starting messing with him by putting him in the starting rotation. League has reached potential as a 7th inning guy and is far too inconsistant to be anything more than that. So I guess its worth the gamble in Morrow.
I think League and Stewart would be too expensive...
With League they´ll get a good BP arm… at the moment Morrow is also only a BP guy… and Stewart is according to Baseball America (before Drabek) the Jays number 1 prospect… this would be way too much for a guy with controll issues and maybe becoming a solid mid rotation pitcher… Cooper would fit nice… Dopirak, too
by jaysfanfromeurope on Dec 22, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions
Cooper is awful. It’d be nice to get rid of him before his stock bottoms out soon.
by NHfishercatsfan on Dec 22, 2009 10:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
i keep seeing that...
Dopirak is the prospect. Multiple sites now reporting it but none that I find too credible. As a huge fan of his I hope it is him so he can get a shot in the bigs since the jays are too dumb to move that slug overbay.
by NHfishercatsfan on Dec 22, 2009 10:44 AM EST via mobile reply actions
i will very concern if it was Zach
I dont mind Cecil or Mils since we have too many lefties on our team and i like Marc Rzepcynski a bit better.
huge difference between Cecil and Mills
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
Uhhh
Did the M’s WATCH the last game of the season?
I bet my buddy the Jays would win 76 games or more and League personally did his absolute best to absolutely cut that off at the knees in extra innings of the final game of the season.
Happy trails Brandon.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
anyone getting tired of how easy the yanks and boston are able to trade average
players for great returns, Melky and others for Vazuez
One of the highest Scrabble names in the league at 37...
That just reminded me of the long discussion on one game thread this year… /ramble
"Don't tell me it's impossible. Be honest and tell me you can't do it. Tell me you don't know how."
Whoa
League for this Morrow kid seems like a wash to me.
If there is a prospect of any value whatsoever going back to Seattle, I’ll be pissed.
I think they Jays gave up too early on League. I still think he has closer stuff.
Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
by craig in calgary on Dec 22, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions
Perhaps, Craig...
…but Morrow seems like he could be an above average starter. The Jays have not had problems in recent years finding good bullpen options.
And if Morrow can give 150+ quality innings, I’ll take that over League’s 60+.
I guess I'll withold judgement till after we find out who all is going Seattle's way.
Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
by craig in calgary on Dec 22, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
I'd prefer it was Raul Chavez ;-)
But I’m definetely Ok with it.
If nothing else, I’m liking that AA is out there shaking things up.
Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
by craig in calgary on Dec 22, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Huh
Daily Dish is reporting it’s League, another reliever and a prospect.
Who knows. That makes more sense than League and an elite prospect though. Perhaps Accardo?
hmm
I’d think maybe if that was the case the Jays might get a prospect back from the M’s too…why can’t they just annouce it instead of all this speculation?!?!?!
Looks like Jeroloman...
…would make sense for the Jays, now we have
d´Arnauld here… Good move if Morrow brings 150 innings next year…
by jaysfanfromeurope on Dec 22, 2009 12:35 PM EST reply actions
Not going to be him
Seattle has Adam Moore, their top catching prospect so it makes no sense to bring in another.
Also, Jeroloman can’t hit.
with all of the rumors – seattle looking to pick up overbay
how have we now been involved with two trades involving the M’s and not one had him lumped to them for pigeon feed to keep the 500 deck at skydome …eeeeerrrrrrrrrrr
Rogers center well fed – boost the numbers at the gates tooo – more than overslumps three game hot and 16 game cold streaks at the plate ever have !
jays fan in ottawa looking forward to a slow but steady rise back to glory
and hopefully A/AA/AAA ? BASEball back at that amazing stadium – jetform park anyone ?
please … !
lucas
by TorontoBluejays10 on Dec 22, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions
Who is Johermyn Chavez?
MLBastian Hearing that Blue Jays Minor League OF Johermyn Chavez is the
interesting, didn't see that coming, funny how it's not one of the names that have been
thrown around.
It totally makes sense though.
Its a shame, I was really excited about Chavez. I geuss we still have Sierra, but Chavez had tons of potential to be our RF of the future. I geuss he is a middle of the order type bat and our 2-5 spots of the future appear to be filled, so this is just AA going through with his plan.
Hmm
Haven’t paid much attention to the guy but he has decent numbers. In any case he’s a few years away and I think it’s a very fair trade for both sides.
Of course, people here are going to be upset because they were (perhaps legitimately) excited about Chavez but Mariners fans are going to be even more irate given that they’re receiving a player who they’ve probably never heard of.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
Thanks
I am excited about Morrow, and didn’t know much about Chavez. This seems like a fair deal to me. He is still far down on our prospect chart, correct? You need to trade something to get something, and I think Morrow has more upside than League. I am fine with this deal.
Exactly.
Morrow is a clear upgrade over League. Giving up the 12th ranked prospect in your system isn’t peanuts but Morrow has a pretty good makeup.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
well I wouldn't say "clear"
he has better potential, but at this point, he isn’t as good as League as a reliever.
League had some of the best peripherals of any reliever in baseball last year.
Too expensive!!!
Had a great season…. i´d prefered Jeroloman or Dopirak….
by jaysfanfromeurope on Dec 22, 2009 1:45 PM EST reply actions
Big Z wouldn't allow a swindling like that
but Chavez appears to have a high ceiling, reason that he isn’t higher on most prospect lists (last year I have seen him as high as #1) is because he also has a low floor.
I'm going out on a limb
and saying that it’s League, Overbay and Chavez. Chavez was in lieu of money going to the M’s for Overbay’s contract.
If we give up Overbay
which I have no problem with…I would like for the Jays to use that money and go out and get something to excite the fanbase.
why?
because they’re looking for a 1B/DH type. MLBTR reported last Friday that the M’s were nearing a trade of Morrow for a 1B/DH type. Then we hear they’ve traded Morrow. Why wouldn’t we guess that maybe they got Overbay or Dopirak back?
If they have the budget
I think that is more reason why they would this year, he is off the books for next year and they can persue who they want.
Chavez was highly regarded two seasons ago
In almost everyone’s top 10 prospects list, but after a down 2008 fell off the radar a bit. We were one of the few sites to keep on our list. He had a great 2009, though, and wasn’t at all old for the level so people were pretty excited for him. But the Jays prefer Sierra’s superior defense in right (one of the best arms in the minors) and of course they have Snider for the other corner so I guess he was expendable.
It’s not that I think this is an unfair deal, but I’m not super excited about Morrow. Besides the injury concers, pitchers who don’t throw strikes don’t fare well in the AL East (nor with Cito). If fans were frustrated by League’s erratic pitching, Morrow is likely to be similar in that regard and wishes he had League’s control. Seattle is a smart team (or has been since Bavasi left) so why would they give up so quickly on an arm they drafted, that was still cheap and had so much upside? I’ll be happy if I’m proven wrong, and I can definitely see the upside in a move like this, but I’m not sure.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 2:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions
definitely worry about Z's willingness to deal Morrow
As for Chavez’s defence, he had the top rated arm in the MWL.
I certainly hadn't heard any knocks
on Chavez’s defense, I just remember the Jays took a long look at Sierra in 2009 spring training and were raving about his d
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 2:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hmmm I get a chance to look in and the Jays get rid of a guy I like
and a prospect I like. oh well, Chavez is a little ways from the big leagues yet. I’d imagine the Jays are thinking of Morrow as a starter?
seems that way
One thing I do trust with the Jays is that they understand how much more valuable a decent starter is than a very good reliever.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 3:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Here's the opinion over at Lookout Landing
Sounds like it’s Morrow for League + Jomerhyn Chavez, which sucks.
When both fanbases are upset with a trade odds are the deal isn’t so bad.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
I don't think our fanbase is upset with the deal
I understand why Seattle’s is. I do like that we are moving a reliever and an A ball prospect for a starter who has a chance to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. I’m just not completely without reservation. It seems strange for a team like Seattle to give up on Morrow so fast when they know they rushed him in the first place. If I was a Mariners fan, I’d be furious.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 3:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I am quite happy with the deal.
I like Morrow, and I was consistently frustrated by how League couldn’t put it all together to show the Promise we all saw.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
The funny thing is that you are decribing Morrow as well.
He hasn’t put it together either. All we’ve seen is erratic promise. It seems Chavez was thrown in to make up for the service time difference and it’s essentially a pitcher for pitcher swap.
Well thats the thing isn’t it. The Service time. League has been consistently inconsistent for longer. Every year we sit here and say ok this is the year. And then nope. And then ok maybe next year, and then… well he was ok…. but still
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
For the record...
I’ve never been of the opinion that “this” would be the year. I’ve always felt that League was one of those guys who would never reach the potential that people were all excited about.
I’ll probably feel the same about Morrow in about 8 months….
Why do we do this to ourselves?
I like the deal myself as well.
I personally think the odds on Chavez aren’t as good as Morrow panning out and reaching his potential. There’s some risk involved but I really believe Morrow will at least be as good as Brandon League with a likely chance that Chavez doesn’t pan out after struggling in AA (I think he will at first but let’s see how well he adjusts in a year or so). So all things end up being even but we get the younger pitcher with more control so a slight WIN imo.
Chavez has less value to us as well since he would need to be on the 40-man roster to be protected and could end up as Rule V pick down the road. He also is a long way away and while he has the tools but he’s really just a C+ prospect that could go several ways. He would have no or next to no value if he struggles in 2010 at AA.
AWmusic - mp3 blog.
http://twitter.com/awmusicblog
Sierra
There’s a lot to like about Chavez. He hit 21 homers in a pitcher friendly league. I think that might have been second highest in the league. From what I’ve read and seen, he’s a LF, not a RF. This upcoming year would probably be make or break for him. If he excels at HIgh A then this could potentially look bad down the road for the Jays as he is a big bat guy. But who knows, you have to like what Brandon Morrow brings to the table and it’s something the Jays clearly have lacked. Power pitching is what wins you games in October. Drabek and Morrow bring a new dimension to the Jays. Losing Chavez isn’t so bad if Moises Sierra realizes his power potential this year, and you’d have to imagine the Jays draft a toolsy type corner outfielder with at least one of those early picks.
yes
The Midwest League is not at all known for being a good hitter’s league. When Snider put up similar power numbers a few years back, people thought it was a very good sign.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 3:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Organizational Depth Chart
I like what AA is doing, farm suddenly doesn’t look so bad.
SP: Drabek
SP: Stewart
SP: Morrow
SP: Cecil
SP: Romero
C: Arencebia/ D’Arnaud
1B: Wallace
2B: Hill
SS: Jackson/ Pierre
3B: Encarnacion/ Ahrens
LF: Snider
CF: Marisnick
RF: Sierra
DH: Lind
Are ya'll sure he's destined to be a starter?
Here is Morrow’s scouting report on SBNation:
Assets Boasts an overpowering fastball that can be devastating in the latter stages of games. Is brash and unafraid of pitching in key situations.
Flaws May not have enough of a pitching repertoire to go six innings regularly, so his long-term future rests with an ability to dominate in short stints.
Career Potential A setup man with the upside to close out games.
Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
by craig in calgary on Dec 22, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions
If the Jays want him to be a starter, he will be
I don’t think this trade makes sense with Morrow as a reliever.
He did start his last 10 games of the year last year but only typically went around 5 innings deep. His last start was an 8 inning 1 hitter against the A’s, so he is physically able to go deep. With some of his injuries the last couple of years, it bodes well that he was starting at the end of last year.
I guess the big thing will be whether or not the Jays can work with him to add another plus pitch. Obviously the walks will have to come down too but at his age neither of those is insurmountable.
I think it makes sense to try and get him to close
because I’m not totally sold that Frasor should be the closer, its nice to have some options there, and I do think Morrow has closer stuff and closer mentality, its just his control that is in question.
I'm not convinced he'll be a starter long-term
But my guess is that the Jays hope he can be and will try him there. As a side note, I can’t think of many relievers who were successful despite walk rates anywhere close to Morrow’s. Walking people out of the pen is generally anathema to successful relievers, so it’s not like it’s a sure thing for him to be a shutdown setup guy or closer, either.
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
by hugo on Dec 22, 2009 4:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Sophie's Choice - AA's Choice...
AA chose Accardo, Janssen, Camp and several of the starters you we just don’t have room for as starters over League.
He also chose Sierra, Thames, Marisnick and Loewen over Chavez.
IF Morrow can reach his potential as a #2 starter then this is a STEAL. IF NOT – this is still a good, relatively cheap shot at getting an impact starter.
Whoa
I generally like to grade a trade by how the opposing fans feel about it. Seattle fans certainly seem pissed
My favourite headline:
Sounds like it’s Morrow for League + Jomerhyn Chavez, which sucks.
Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
by craig in calgary on Dec 22, 2009 5:45 PM EST reply actions
I think im going to cut myslef
ANYONE BUT BRANDON
he was my favorite guy on the team. :((((((((((((((( this sucks. lost my 2 favorite players this offseason.
Onions Baby Onions
Yeah why can't
we get rid of VW?
O wait…
Cheer up buddy, this is the life of a rebuilding team. There’s a beer with your name on it :).
AWmusic - mp3 blog.
http://twitter.com/awmusicblog
are you kiding me OHMYBOSH ???
Roy i understand – but brandon league ???
The fact the new brandon has potential to be a starter is all i need to say –
I was done watching brandon league a few years ago ! – thank you Alex
lucas
by TorontoBluejays10 on Dec 22, 2009 5:59 PM EST reply actions
I always look on the bright side with League.
hes a one of a king guy. incredible fastball and absolutely unhittable splitter when hes on his game. if he sorts out his control he could easily be one of the best closers in the league.
if Morrow isnt starting for us this trade is terrible. its basically like trading League for a guy whos similar except without such a good 2nd pitch, and giving up a very solid prospect.
Onions Baby Onions
also
none of my favorite players are star guys for any of the teams i like.
for the jays, its always been J-Mac and League… (obviously i loved Doc too, but that doesnt count because hes everyone’s favorite player.)
Onions Baby Onions
EXACTLY
League freakin` KILLED this team on more than a handful of occasions just last year…ohmybosh ur nuts
my pleasure
"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman
Quite frankly
I’m not sure League doesn’t have more starter potential than Morrow. I know that’s not going to happen. I’m just unsure about Morrow.
This is an even trade because it’s all about projection for all three players.
But if the Mariners aren’t buying into the Morrow projection, alarm bells should be going off.
On the other hand
The M’s are planning on making a run of it in 2010, and because of that may not have patience with Morrow. While the Jays can take a chance on him as starter, the Ms dont have time to try and see whether he can live up to the potential they saw in him. I guess the big mistake for the Ms was rushing Morrow up.
I don’t think this is a fleecing of the Ms, but I do think that there is just a little bit more well-timed upside on the Jays end of the deal. I like this move a lot.
On a side note, the comments on MLBtraderumors are funny as hell.
All day all this fans were saying stuff like how unless it was Snider, Wallace, Drabek it would be a bad deal. Then when Chavez gets announced the tone changes to Morrow isn’t that great of a pitcher. Gotta love the kneejerk reactions of fans.
Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...
A theory on how this went down
Got a feeling that AA wanted Morrow all along, with the Roy Halladay deal, but that they couldn’t iron out all the details. The rumours were spreading like wildfire, and rather than drag out the whole Roy Halladay saga any longer by finalizing the negotiations on which players the M’s would get for Morrow, and adding more physicals, and that kind of stuff, that they decided to temporarily pull the plug on it, to keep it quiet, until the dust kinda settled on the Halladay and Lee trade.
Just seems funny to me that this comes so shortly after a major trade, which involved the Mariners and Jays. Also, I thought the Mariners got off a little easy with what they gave up to get Lee + 2 picks.
Anyways, my take on the trade is that I like it. It’s a potential high reward scenario, because Morrow could be a 2/3 starter, or late reliever. League can be late reliever too, but I think he had a shot to prove himself, and his time passed as a Jay. I expect he will be a good set up man. As for Chavez, I hadn’t heard much of him.
I hope this means they keep Accardo as a 7th, 8th inning option.
Is it Spring Training yet?
Could not agree more with you REMO
Accardo is the one thing that League was never……CONSISTENT….ohmybosh needs to give his head a damn shake about his stuff. So friggin what hundreds of guys have `sometimes` unhittable stuff. At the end of the day when he got hit it ended up out of the stadium and costing us games. Morrow`s got a great fast ball, could be a darn good starter but more importantly gives us closer competition alongside Frasor/ Downs…..I LOVE this trade
JUST WANNA TAKE THIS MOMENT TO SAY TO ALL OF THOSE WITH A MANCRUSH ON LEAGUE...
HA HA HA HA HA….
I remember saying that we`d get Morrow. Thought it would`ve been part of the Halladay trade but oh well. League SUCKS/ Morrow has Huge upside….oh goddy thank the lord
I don't mind League, and I think he'll do well, but I just like Morrow better, AND we get him for one more year than League, which really should be a huge factor in evaluating the trade.
That being said, the Mariners might win out on this trade yet. Essentially, Morrow asked them, I believe given his arm troubles and diabetic condition, to stay in the pen. His value in the pen is lower than as a starter. I have to assume, unless AA states otherwise, that the Jays will have to consider Morrow’s wishes also?
That being said, closers come at a premium, and AA might see him as an option to close next year, or perhaps to groom him for that role after Frasor/Downs walk away in 2011. If they both end up relievers, and League figures out his electric arm, the Mariners are ahead.
Anyway, I like the trade, and I’m pretty sure AA will speak of the role they see Morrow in, when they announce the trade officially, which will hopefully be tomorrow.
Brandon League = ....
A gas can in search of a fire.
Great trade.
so...
Jays get: Drabek, Morrow, Wallace, D’Arnaud
Phillies get: Doc Halladay, Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, Juan Ramirez
Mariners get: Cliff Lee, Brandon League, Johermyn Chavez
A’s get: Michael Taylor
Personally I think this puts everything into a little more perspective. The Mariners now don’t look like they gave up peanuts for Cliff Lee as they did before this announcement. As it was mentioned above I think this was going to be part of the bigger deal however for whatever reason couldn’t be finalized in time.
From a Jays perspective, I LOVE this move. AA is focused on adding as much upside as possible and Morrow is still full of upside with a chance to reach it as a #1/2 starter, whereas League was a little closer to his full potential which is an above average setup man, Chavez is a wild-card a few years away from being ‘ready’ if ever…so I’m not too worried about losing him especially given the fact that we have Sierra and Marisnick in the minors too.
if you ask me league are morrow are pretty similar in terms of potential
sure Morrow could start… but he really shouldnt unless he can miraculously sort out his control problems…. League’s ceiling = best closer in baseball.
Onions Baby Onions
You are the biggest moron ever...
just kidding.
I don’t think League’s ceiling is that high. Though it is higher than some give credit for. That said, I am still satisfied with this deal. I think the fact that both sides (mariner and Jays fans) are debating if their team did well on this trade, basically means it was a fair deal. I am excited for Morrow and think that is exactly what we needed.
Brandon League, Circa July 28th, 2009
At a bar in Seattle called the Cowgirls Saloon (note the sign in the background)
Those of you who were around BBB back then might remember the Fanpost I did. A whole pile of us made the trip to Seattle to watch the three game set. As I recall, the first game was fun. Not so much for the other two.
I hope League finds a lot of success in Seattle. “sometimes-brilliant, occasionally-frustrating” is an appropriate description, I’d say. Might have to make the trip to Seattle again, and watch League pitch in the other jersey this time.
This is weird to say but.
He looks goofier without those goofy glasses.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
AA owns this trade...
Simply – AA thinks Morrow has a good enough chance to become a #2 or #3 starter to trade a TERRIFIC – ONE INNING – pitcher and a big 20 year old kid who could be a regular some day.
AA this is why you got the job – now just be RIGHT at least three times out of four and you’ll still be our GM in 2015.
Good luck.
I always thought of Brandon as Ricky Vaughn
who we all know is the best closer of all time.
Onions Baby Onions
technically
Vaughn only “closed” one game, the playoff against the Yankees. Even in that one, he ended up getting the win, not the save, as it was tied when he came in, and then the Indians won on a walkoff in the bottom of the 9th (sorry if I’m spoiling the ending of this 20-year-old movie for anyone).
The rest of the season (and the rest of his career, as far as we know) he was a starter.
Agree that the resemblance is pretty uncanny. Still think the Jays got the better of this deal. I’m pretty sure another season of League out of the pen would have given all of us terminal heart conditions. While I enjoyed watching him on the 30% of occasions when he would strike out the side on 9 pitches, the other 70% where he would either walk 5 guys in a row or give up back-to-back-to-back homers (at least this is what it felt like) got pretty old, pretty fast.
by voodoomusic on Dec 23, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
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