Morrow Gets A Fresh Start

12/22/2009 12:09 PM -  Fred Zinkie

December 22, 2009
By: Fred Zinkie

The Blue Jays and Mariners have been two of the most active teams this off-season.  So, it should have come as no surprise that they found a way to hook up on another deal.  The Jays gamble on starter/reliever Brandon Morrow while Seattle adds depth to their bullpen with Brandon League.  Let’s assess the impact on both rosters.

Brandon Morrow – The Jays will almost certainly try him in the rotation.  Morrow was considered an elite pitching prospect three years ago and many people feel that he his role was jerked around too much by Seattle since that time.  If he can stay healthy (a big “if” with Morrow) then the Jays will probably leave him in the rotation all year and let him work out his weaknesses on the job.  Walks have always been Morrow’s biggest problems but this is a pitcher who throws hard, has good stuff and can strike batters out.  He has fantasy baseball potential if he can get on track.  The AL East will be a hard place to do that but a fresh start could be all he needs.

Brandon League – Three years ago his future was brighter too.  The Jays considered him to be their future closer, just waiting to eventually take over for B.J. Ryan.  Ryan’s era in Toronto ended sooner than expected but League didn’t progress to the point where is role could be expanded.  League’s problems started with a mysterious arm injury in the spring of 2007.  There was some uncertainty as to whether the injury came from weight training or surfing (his obsession in life) but either way it ruined his 2007 season and he has never been quite the same pitcher.  He gets a lot of groundball outs and can get a big strikeout when he needs one but he can be erratic at times.  In Seattle he can get also get a fresh start and the fans on the West Coast might appreciate his unique style. He will work in middle relief and at best he will have end-of-the-lineup AL-Only value. At the very least, he will be closer to the ocean.

Jeremy Accardo – He pleaded to get out of Toronto last year, once throwing his jersey in the garbage after being sent down to Triple-A.  He asked the Jays not to offer him arbitration this winter but they did anyways.  This move clears up some space in their bullpen so he should make the team in 2010.  Don’t expect any saves, though.  The new regime in Toronto doesn’t view him the same as the old one.

Brett Cecil, Mark Rzepczynski, Brian Tallet, David Purcey, Scott Richmond, Dustin McGowan, Kyle Drabek, Jesse Litsch, Shawn Marcum, Ricky Romero – The Jays now have an excess of young pitching.  What they don’t have, are any reliable veteran starters.  There are ten names on the above list and that doesn’t include Morrow.  All 11 of those players could make starts for the Jays in 2010.  Marcum, Romero, Rzepczynski and Morrow should all be in the opening day rotation.  The fifth spot is Cecil’s if he can earn it.  Richmond, Purcey and Tallet are all on the outside, waiting for the young starters to falter (not a bad bet).  Expect Richmond and Purcey to start the year in Triple-A while Tallet heads to the bullpen.  McGowan and Litsch will be back from injury in the second half and will be looking for starts.  Drabek is likely the best of them all and if he pitches well in the minors this year he could force himself into the September rotation.

Doug Fister, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Yusmeiro Petit – Losing Morrow opens up more space in Seattle’s 2010 rotation.  Lee, Hernandez and Snell will occupy three spots for certain.  Rowland-Smith is a pretty sure bet for another spot.  Fister will have the inside track for the fifth job, after pitching pretty well in the second half last year.  Petit comes to Seattle with an inconsistent track record and will need a good spring to avoid starting the year in the bullpen.