Browse entire “40-man, Player by Player” series here.
Previous entry: Shawn Kelley.  Next up, Cliff Lee.

Brandon Morrow’s experience with the Seattle Mariners was an interesting one.

• Drafted in front of hometown favorite and now two time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum.
• Made big league club out of Spring Training the following season as a reliever in a short sighted, job saver move by manager Mike Hargrove and GM Bill Bavasi.
• Converted to a starting pitcher over the winter.  Ended up back in the bullpen for 2008.
• Dominated.  Sent back to the minors to become a started towards the end of the season.
• Almost no hit the Yankees in starting debut.  Struggled after that, but showed flashes of brilliance.
• After injuries slowed him down in Spring Training, GM Jack Zduriencik gives him the choice to join the big league bullpen or the AA rotation.  Morrow picks the bullpen (and bigger paycheck).
• Morrow gets rocked as the closer, decides maybe he should learn to start.  Showed progress in AAA.

Morrow had potential, but thanks to mismanagement by both the Bavasi and Zduriencik front offices he wasn’t able to realize it in his short time with the Mariners.  But he was finally on the right track and because of the his #2/3 potential, many Mariner fans were disappointed when Zduriencik dealt him to the Toronto Blue Jays for a reliever and class-A prospect.  No, Morrow wasn’t exactly a known value for 2010, and has some health issues that could prevent him from starting anyway, but by trading him after what he had been through was definitely selling low.

But whether you like the deal or not, it’s done, so we can look forward to what Seattle received in exchange for their former first round pick.  Welcome to Seattle, Brandon League!

League instantly joins the conversation for Seattle’s best reliever.  While his ERA wasn’t particularly pretty, League had a bit of a breakout season in 2009.  He started walking fewer hitters and added what would become the number one swing and miss pitch in all of baseball, an absolutely terrifying split-change.

(from Lookout Landing)

I could watch this .gif forever.  That is absolutely beautiful.  If you enjoyed watching J.J. Putz fool hitters with his splitter, you’re going to fall in love with League.

Last year he threw this pitch about a third of the time, and his other offering isn’t too shabby either.  He throws a fastball in the mid to high 90s.  Check that, a sinking fastball in the mid to high 90s.

Between those two pitches, League racked up the Ks (9.16 K/9) and ground balls (55.7%).   He got more grounders and fewer walks than both David Aardsma and Mark Lowe last year, making him a nice compliment to his new late inning partners.

If League can keep his walk rates to his 2009 levels, I think he’s the best reliever in Seattle’s bullpen.  Hell, even if League’s walk rates regress back towards career norms, I still might call him the best reliever in the bullpen.  If Aardsma leaves that 9th inning door open just a little bit, look for League to muscle his way into the closer position.

I can’t wait to watch this guy on a regular basis.