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Section: Seattle Mariners

Mariners receive two pitching prospects for Ichiro

ERIC D. WILLIAMS

Not much.

That’s the opinion of John Manuel, co-editor of Baseball America, who’s been evaluating the top 10 prospects in the New York Yankees organization since 2004.

Manual said neither starting pitcher D.J. Mitchell or reliever Danny Farquhar – players Seattle received for Ichiro Suzuki – were rated among the Yankees’ top 10 prospects this year.

Both pitchers will report to Triple-A Tacoma.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik described both players as having “nice arms.”

But even more than the trade itself, Manuel was stunned that the Mariners actually gave the richest team in baseball cash for the deal to go through.

“I think it was surprising to me that the Mariners threw money into that deal,” Manuel said. “Usually when you throw money into a deal, it’s because you’re getting good prospects back But they didn’t get anybody of impact back in that deal.”

Manuel said the pitcher with the most upside is Mitchell, a 10th round draft choice by the Yankees in 2008 out of Clemson who spent most of this season pitching with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 6-4 with a 5.04 ERA (48 earned runs, 85† innings) in 15 games, 14 starts.

Manuel said Mitchell, 25, is not as talented as Hector Noesi, whom Seattle received in a trade along with catcher Jesus Montero from the Yankees for pitcher Michael Pineda and minor league pitcher Jose Campos.

“He’s a little guy,” Manuel said about the 6-foot, 160-pound Mitchell. “He’s just not physically imposing. He has a quick arm. He’s athletic, but he’s not a difference-maker. He’s a good pitcher. He’s a better prospect than Farquhar.”

Manuel said Mitchell was the fourth or fifth-best pitcher on the Yankees’ Triple-A farm team.

Farquhar, 25, split the season between the Toronto, Oakland and New York organizations. Farquhar has a 2-3 record this season with five saves and a 3.33 ERA (19 earned runs, 51ª innings pitched) with 54 strikeouts in 32 games, all in relief.

He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Manual described Farquhar as a pitcher with a live arm who can reach 96 mph, uses a lot of different arm angles, but who has trouble at times finding the strike zone.

“He’s a hard thrower, but he’s always had command issues,” Manuel said. “In terms of valuing him as a prospect, he’s a middle reliever, and there’s an endless supply of middle relievers in the minors.”

D.J. MITCHELL

Name: William Douglas Mitchell
Born: May 13, 1987, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 160
College: Clemson
Drafted: 10th round (No. 320 overall) in 2008 by the New York Yankees.
Transaction: Signed with Yankees on Aug. 8, 2008.
Notes: Rated the No. 16 prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America
entering this season. ... Pitched 42/3 innings in four appearances with the Yankees this season, allowing seven hits, two runs, walked three and struck out two with a 3.86 ERA. ... Best pitch is his sinkerball. ... Can be used as a starter or reliever.

DANNY FARQUHAR

Name: Daniel Andres Farquhar
Born: February 17, 1987, in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-9
Weight: 180
College: Louisiana-Lafayette
Drafted: 10th round (No. 309 overall) in 2008 by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Transactions: Signed with Blue Jays on June 30, 2008. ... On Nov. 17, 2010, traded by Toronto with RHP Trystan Magnuson to Oakland for OF Rajai Davis. ... On April 18, 2011, traded by Oakland back to Toronto for LHP David Purcey. ... Signed off waivers by Oakland on June 9. ... Signed off waivers by Yankees on June 26.
Notes: Taken 11 picks ahead of Mitchell ... In three appearances with the Blue Jays in 2011, pitched two innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with two walks and one strikeout. ... Strictly a reliever. ... Ranked the No. 22 best prospect in Oakland’s system after the 2010 season by Baseball America.