The Trade: Mariners get RP Brandon League + OF Jehormyn Chavez(Prospect). Blue Jays get RP/SP Brandon Morrow.
Mariners: Grade B+. Look at these two pitching lines:
Pitcher A: 26 yo, 3-6, 4.58, 74.2 IP, 21 BB, 76 K's.
Pitcher B: 25 yo, 2-4, 4.39, 69.2 IP, 44 BB's, 63 K's.
Both pitchers have fastball velocities in the high 90's, with decent secondary stuff.
I don't know about you, but I would take Pitcher A based on clearly superior control with essentially equal ages, stuff, and K rates. In this case, Pitcher A is Brandon League and and Pitcher B is Brandon Morrow. That Seattle got an extra prospect in the deal is just icing on the cake. I'm even tempted to go A- or A here, but I'm not sure any of the players involved is enough of a difference maker to justify an A grade for either team.
Chavez is not chopped liver either. He played last season at age 20 in low A Midwest League, a very tough league for hitters:
.283, .386, .474 with 21 HR's. Chavez is a big OF, 6'3", 220 lbs, so weight could become an issue for him in the future. For now, he has enough speed to steal 10 bases, so should be able to at least play LF. He should put up huge numbers in High A, High Desert next season!
Blue Jays: Grade C-. See discussion above. The only factor keeping this grade from an F is that Morrow is still young and has some upside himself. He's a former first round draft choice, taken by Seattle ahead of hometown hero Tim Lincecum(as good as this trade is for Seattle, it still must be galling to Seattle fans to see this outcome to that draft). Morrow has closed with some success, but wants to be a starter. Perhaps Toronto's GM is looking at his last start of 2009, 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K's, and is thinking he's on the verge of a breakout as a starter? That's an awful lot of projection to put on a one game sample! The BB/9 and K/BB would suggest that Morrow has a way's to go before he's a dominant pitcher in any role. Still, if he ever harnesses his stuff, he still has the ceiling of an ace. For a team that just traded away Roy Halladay for 3 prospects, a 2 for 1 going the other way is baffling to say the least.
Fantasy Impact: Uncertain. League will probably be Seattle's setup man behind David Aardsma, but watch this situation closely if Aardsma falters at all. Morrow could be a sleeper as either a closer or starter for Toronto, but probably draftable only in deeper leagues unless he is clearly the closer coming out of spring training. Morrow should be watched closely if he starts the season in the rotation.
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