By all indications, Monday’s report from foxsports.com of a trade that would send former first-round draft pick Brandon Morrow from the Seattle Mariners to the Toronto Blue Jays for reliever Brandon League and an un-named prospect is true.
However, no official confirmation of the trade was released on Tuesday. Morrow flew to Tampa, Fla., and took his physical for the Blue Jays, while League was in Seattle getting checked out.
“It went fine,” Morrow said of the physical. “They really haven’t told me anything specific yet, other than I have to sit back and wait for everything to go through.”
Because of the extensive process, an announcement sometime today seems likely.
The unnamed prospect would have to take a physical as well, which could be contributing to the delay.
About mid-afternoon Tuesday, mlb.com reported that prospect was most likely young outfielder Johermyn Chavez.
If that’s true, that would likely be the cause of the delay as Chavez is playing for a team in the Venezuelan winter league.
The report of Chavez (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) being the likely other piece in the trade dampened most Internet speculation of higher-rated prospects like third baseman Brett Wallace, pitcher Zach Stewart or outfielder Travis Snider.
Chavez, 20, is a native of Turmero, Venezuela, who signed with Blue Jays in 2005. He has spent four years in the organization but hasn’t moved past Class A.
In fact, he spent the last two seasons at Low-A Lansing. In 2008, he hit .211 with seven homers and 39 RBI in 115 games.
This past season, he wasn’t quite as overwhelmed, hitting .283 with 22 doubles, 21 homers and 89 RBI. But he did strike out 173 times.
According to the mlb.com story, League seemed optimistic about becoming a Mariner. He talked to former Blue Jay and current Mariner Miguel Batista, and he worked with pitching coach Rick Adair in 2004 in New Hampshire.
“I’m excited because I had Rick Adair as Double-A pitching coach, and in talking with Miguel Batista he had nothing but good things to say about the Mariners, the direction they’re going,” League said. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about Don Wakamatsu. I’m excited to be here, excited that they want me, and I’ll be trying to help out as much as I can to win games.”
League appeared in 67 games for the Blue Jays last season, posting a 3-6 record with a 4.58 ERA. He struck out 76 batters in 742/3 innings.
He has a mid-90s fastball that sinks, and a solid slider. He has been the Blue Jays’ closer-in-waiting the past few years, but couldn’t find the success he had in the set-up role.
When the deal is finalized, Morrow will become the third former first round draft pick that general manager Jack Zduriencik has sent away.
“I knew I was on the trading block,” Morrow said. “With all the stuff on the Internet and friends calling and texting, it didn’t come as a surprise. But when you get a call from your GM telling you, it was a little overwhelming.”
Morrow will leave Seattle as an example of unmet potential and probably improper management of his role within the organization.
Morrow has bounced back and forth between reliever and starter throughout his time with Seattle. Last season, he was 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 69 2/3 innings.
As a starter for the Mariners, he was 2-1 in 10 starts with a 3.68 ERA.
Morrow will join Jeff Clement and Phillippe Aumont as departed first round picks. Last year at midseason, Zduriencik dealt 2005 first-round pick Clement to the Pirates as part of a multi-player deal that landed Seattle shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell.
A week ago, Zduriencik traded 2007 first-round pick Aumont, a reliever, to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a three-player swap for former Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee.
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