Brandon Morrow traded for Brandon League & Yoho Chavez

[Kevin Willis]

League is a huge tease. He throws flames but damn I'm uneasy whenever he comes in - don't know why. I also have that fear that he gets in and becomes one of the better relievers in the Major leagues. At least he's willing to work on his splitter, Morrow is stubborn and just does heat. A huge tease but sometimes it's not bad to be teased.

[dagger]

Law's assessment on Insider:

Mariners gained some 2010 value, contract predicability, lose upside.
League may have peaked in 09, expect some regression despite better D behind him.
Morrow was mishandled as badly as any high draft pick can be mishandled.
Morrow should start in AA because Las Vegas is a hitter's park in a division of hitter's parks and he needs to develop his breaking or off-speed pitches.
Chavez is a strong 20-year-old outfielder with raw power and good leverage in his swing but poor control of the strike zone and recognition of offspeed pitches.

[OldNo7]

Start in AA? Law is a crack fiend.

[Michael Bradley]

It wouldn't be a terrible idea. Morrow hasn't been stretched out too often given the constant flip-flopping between roles. If they monitor his workload in the minors, let him work on improving his command/secondary pitches, and then bring him up in a couple of months, I don't see the issue. Starting him in AA to avoid Las Vegas might not be the best thing for his ego, but we already know he can get MLB hitters out. It's just a matter of refining his skills. He is still a bit of a project, despite being 25. He was mishandled by the Mariners (think Kelvim Escobar circa 1997-2002).

I get the sense that he will start in the MLB rotation right away, but I don't think a minor league stint to build his stamina up is the worst thing in the world. If he has options left, why not? It might help him.

[Schad]

It wouldn't be a terrible idea. Morrow hasn't been stretched out too often given the constant flip-flopping between roles. If they monitor his workload in the minors, let him work on improving his command/secondary pitches, and then bring him up in a couple of months, I don't see the issue. Starting him in AA to avoid Las Vegas might not be the best thing for his ego, but we already know he can get MLB hitters out. It's just a matter of refining his skills. He is still a bit of a project, despite being 25. He was mishandled by the Mariners (think Kelvim Escobar circa 1997-2002).

I get the sense that he will start in the MLB rotation right away, but I don't think a minor league stint to build his stamina up is the worst thing in the world. If he has options left, why not? It might help him.

I don't necessarily disagree; a six-week stint in AA might not be a bad thing for him, but I do wonder how Morrow would take it.

[-MetA4-]

Start in AA? Law is a crack fiend.

I think he's partially right. Morrow's case is a lot like Halladay's when he first bombed. Unfortunately, Morrow isn't as young as Halladay (a HS pitcher) was so you cant take the extreme measure of completely reworking him, but he's been handled so poorly that I think it would be a good idea to start him in the minors. Law does state that he'd send him to AA because Las Vegas is a hitters park.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Start in AA? Law is a crack fiend.

Doesn't really matter anyway - they say the competition in AA is much better then AAA nowadays. AAA are for the major leaguers that can't make the roster.

[The_Hater]

Start in AA? Law is a crack fiend.

Doesn't really matter anyway - they say the competition in AA is much better then AAA nowadays. AAA are for the major leaguers that can't make the roster.

Not exactly. The quality of ball isn't better however you do get more young players that are still on the way up rather than as you said, players on the way down.

[rtcaino]

I'd be fine with Morrow to start off in NH. Allow him to get some reps in with whatever adjustments the organization might suggest and gain some confidence with them.

[SharoneWright]

As good of an arm as League has/had (due to "overdeveloped shoulder muscles.... lol), its what's between the ears that prevents him from putting it all together... imho.

Regardless, gone are the days of "sure-thing/low-ceiling" acquisitions under JP. Swing away AA!

[-MetA4-]

As good of an arm as League has/had (due to "overdeveloped shoulder muscles.... lol), its what's between the ears that prevents him from putting it all together... imho.

I think it should be noted that Morrow is as much a headcase as league, if not an even bigger one (depending on what you think League's "fault" was).

I used to think that League just didn't really like baseball that much which is why he was slow to develop, but Anthopolous said yesterday that he was the hardest worker on the team behind Halladay. That of course could just be coach-speak (or GM-speak in this case), but it does make me think differently about evaluating League.

[rtcaino]

AA also said something like he expects Morrow to come in and earn a spot.

I'm not sure if he was saying in his estimation, Morrow is expected to make it. Or just that if Morrow makes it, he would have to earn it.

If he's so similar to AJ, too bad we didn't have Arnie to work his magic. Hopefully the similiarities between AJ and Morrow end at the neck.