The Mariners have traded Brandon League to the Dodgers for prospects Leon Landry and Logan Bawcom, the team announced. Earlier today we heard that a number of contenders had interest in Seattle's former closer as they looked to bolster their bullpens.
League, 29, is owed approximately $1.8MM for the rest of the season before becoming a free agent this winter. He's pitched to a 3.63 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 44 2/3 innings this year, plus his usual sky-high ground ball rate is down to just 46.9%. The Dodgers have lost Matt Guerrier and Todd Coffey to injury this season, so League will add some late-inning depth.
Landry, 22, is hitting .328/.358/.559 with eight homers and 15 triples in 376 plate appearances for Los Angeles' High Class-A affiliate this season while spending most of his time in center field. Bawcom, a 23-year-old right-hander, owns a 2.03 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 48 2/3 relief innings split between Single-A and Double-A this year. Neither player ranked among the team's top 30 prospects in Baseball America's Prospect Handbook before the season.
Thank you very much.
uh ok
They are happening so fast, I cant keep up with all the trades!!!
Get the Demp deal done now LA!
Interesting move. With Jansen, Belisario, Choate, Lindblom, Guerra, Wright and Tolleson in the bullpen and Elbert, Guerrier, Hawksworth and Coffey all working their way back from the DL, I’m not sure who League squeezes out… maybe Lindblom gets moved for a bat?
EDIT: Looking at League’s numbers this year, especially pitching in Seattle, I’m not sure he’s really an improvement over any of these guys.
i heard they were talking lindblom and possibly gwynn for victorino
Rumor is they might be flipping him to Philly for Victorino.
Or maybe Pence?
They’d have to give up quite a bit more than Brandon League in that scenario.
Hahaha no way phillies take a reliever who is due to be a FA after the year for victorino. It would have to be lindblom and someone else…
League is a GB specialist who no longer induces GBs. Not exactly an elite reliever.
coffey has no shot and shouldnt even be considered for the mlb team.
OK, but that still leaves 11 arms competing for 7 spots…
injuries happen, good problem to have.
Landry and Bawcom have pretty solid numbers to give up for some league average bullpen depth… poor trade for the Dodgers in my opinion.
isnt single pcl, a notorious hitters park? there going for it now, the double a pitcher cant help them now.
Coffey’s done for the season, Guerrier won’t be back for 2-3 weeks, DeLaRosa is coming but they want to ease him back and Guerra’s been pretty wobbly. Also, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded one of the other guys for a position player by tomorrow. Generally Dodger fans should want Colletti to stay away from trading for relievers given his track record in that department but I think this one actually made sense and neither prospect is really a high ceiling, exciting guy.
There is no way that the dodgers would even consider getting rid of Lindblom. Yes there have been rumors, but those are just “RUMORS”. if anybody goes i hope that it Javy Guerra or Coffey
Come on, Lindblom is not untouchable. I wouldn’t trade him for Soriano and would be reluctant to trade him for Victorino, but if we’re talking Choo, Pence, Willingham or Hart, it would be worthwhile.
Coffey isn’t going anywhere. Not even sure he pitches again this season.
Based on talent/performance, Brandon League does “not” deserve to be on the Dodgers’ roster, no less the fact that Colletti gave up prospects and took on the balance of his $5 million dollar salary. Stupidity at its finest!
League is putrid. 1.50 WHIP, and despite throwing 95 MPH, he strikes out an unbelievably low K/9 Rate of 5 batters per 9.
Too many balls in play late in games, with a bunch of baserunners and bad things happen!
What a HUGE surprise, didnt see this coming. Does this lead to lindblom being trade bait?
BIG LEAGUE TIME
Ahhhh damn Dodgers, Landry and Bawcom? Those guys were good why did would you trade them?
As a Seattle fan I find this encouraging. League has just never lived up to his promise and we’ve got better arms in our system coming up soon. My initial take is surprise at what the M’s got back for League, wondering how much of his salary the M’s are paying.
Given that the LAD didn’t give up much in the way of quality or depth from their system, it is likely that the Dodgers are taking all of the remaining salary. The trade doesn’t make nearly as much sense if Seattle isn’t off the hook for the last $1.85MM.
There was plenty of competition for League?
They aren’t that good if you ask most scouts, though Bawcom has a decent arm and certainly has a shot at someday making the Mariners bullpen. Landry’s age vs level is a flag and his numbers in a hitters league aren’t that great. They’re really not worth worrying much about though they’re decent enough return for Seattle I guess.
Seems like a lot for a rental setup man.
Who else is Glad that MLB 2K12 Updates its self!! I dont have to make all the trades like i had to years ago!
We need a first baseman which is why Morneau made sense .. anybody see the dodgers still getting him?
yes i do. dodgers are definitely not done trading.
I believe I read somewhere on this site that Morneau was no longer being looked at by the Dodgers. I might be wrong though.
What happened Brian Sabean where you looking for former Giants to fill in at The bullpen.
League is getting $5 mill this year. Is it possible the Dodgers take that on and then send him somewhere while eating the contract… essentially using the trade literally as cash to go get someone else? Is that legal?
Sure, it’s legal. But it also isn’t the sort of thing one generallytries since there is no assurance that you can flip him. The LAD need bullpen relief and League is ertainly better than a lot of what is being waved around, even if he is having a rough year.
He’s a rental… why would a seller want him?
That sure is a Ned Coletti trade. Prospects for depth and a lateral move.
Good riddance League. Good to get some prospects in return.
Also, this is very much a overpay for him. He’s beyond frustrating when he’s in tight spots. He’s only around for 2 months and he’s essentially replacement level, and we get two young guys.
I like this trade, but then i don’t at the same time.
With regards to Leon Landry, before anyone gets too overly excited, it should be pointed out that Rancho Cucamonga (California high desert 50 miles east of LA) and Ogden (30 miles north of Salt Lake City) are extreme hitters parks and leagues
Not that he is complete trash or anything, but those two seasons have greatly inflated results. (as the respective .393 BAbip in Ogden and .362 BAbip/.232 ISO at RC would indicate).
His production at Great Lakes last year is much more in line with his talent level
Yeah, Bawcom looks like the more valuable piece in this deal. Pretty impressive SO/9 and H/9.
I really wouldn’t call Rancho high desert, but I get what you’re saying.
GOOD RIDDANCE! Thank God! Seattle fans, we are saved. We’re losing more often than winning as it is, and League wasn’t very helpful when we actually did have close, late leads. Getting two players, no matter their pedigrees, for a god-awful, not-under-contract-next-year reliever is such a win for our system.
Can we stop making trades for 2 minutes please? I need to replace my F5 key.
never! trades should be happening ever other min! its Christmas in July!!
wow. Seems like a lot for League. This move hints that the Dodgers will now send Lindblom or another arm for Victorino or in a deal for Pence.
I expect Dempster and Victorino as Dodgers tomorrow. If we’re lucky Pence over Victorino.
2 guys not in the top 30 team’s prospects. 22 yo in single A, and 23 yo in AA doesn’t exactly scream phenom.
This makes no sense. The LA bullpen is doing just fine. There was no need to give up 2 prospects to acquire another reliever (especially one who’s hitting well over .300).
Going by stats alone that Leon Bawcom guy seems like he should have been kept.
Well atleast now I can guarantee that the Jays won the Morrow/League trade.
Now that they have a Logan Bawcom can the Mariners add Homer Bailey and Grant Balfour?
Probably paves the way for a Victorino for Lindblom swap with the Phillies.
If that happens, then I am fine with this trade.
Leon Landry has a plus-plus glove and plus-plus speed in CF with some pop. Kudos to GMZ who typically makes terrible deals.
His “pop” is little more then Park Effect and his SB percentage is absolutely atrocious
He is a good fielder though, with speed to cover a lot of ground.
In a word, PRECURSOR.
Should be an Ok deal for the Dodgers as long as he never faces a lefty.
Given League’s past and especially last season this trade makes sense both ways. League looked like he needed a change of scenery and might regain his form. If he does he is an inexpensive pickup for 2 guys who are at best fringe MLB types. of the 2 Bawcom might be a middle bullpen guy and Landry has some inflated numbers hitting in a super friendly park for batters. As long as League can find some consistency he should be a nice pick up for the Doyers. Sad seeing M’s fans rip this guy after he put up such good numbers for them last season. I remember many saying last year they would be fools to trade him. My how people ideals change after a season.
The Brandon Belt rumors were good while they lasted. I hope one of these prospects pans out.
whether these guys are legit or or not, The Dodgers won’t have a farm system after this year.