Seattle looking at Craig

[Jmodene]

MLB trade rumors also says Seattle is going hard after Brandon Belt, and the Giants are supposedly one of the two teams (Angels being the other) for Brandon League. I suspect we'll see a League-for-Belt deal rather than a Hernandez=for-Craig deal or a Vargas-for-Adams deal.

[fanforever]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

brandon league close to being traded according to @jcrasnick.. destination unknown. #chisox are 1 thats's been interested.

[Jmodene]

From MLB Trade Rumors:

Mariners Close To Trading Brandon League

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 29 at 2:52pm CST]

2:52pm: The Braves and Rangers aren't in the mix for League, Crasnick tweets.

2:46pm: The Angels and Mariners are in talks for League, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. The Mariners could be close to trading League to the Giants or the Angels, Gonzalez writes.

2:24pm: The White Sox have been talking to the Mariners about League and the Angels continue seeking relief help, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links).

2:05pm: The Mariners are close to trading Brandon League to an unknown team, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The Giants, Angels and Mets are known to have some interest in the right-hander.

League is earning $5MM this year and will hit free agency this offseason. The 29-year-old has a 3.05 ERA with 5.3 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and a 46.4% ground ball rate in 42 1/3 innings for Seattle. He lost the closer's job in May, but has pitched to a 1.96 ERA with twice as many strikeouts as walks since the beginning of June. His fastball averages 95.2 mph, according to FanGraphs.

[Vidor]

5.3 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and a 46.4% ground ball rate in 42 1/3 innings for Seattle.

The first number is poor and the second number is terrible, yes? How about the third number?

[Jmodene]

5.3 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and a 46.4% ground ball rate in 42 1/3 innings for Seattle.

The first number is poor and the second number is terrible, yes? How about the third number?

In Seattle, that's not bad, since it's such a poor hitter's park. League would be another Danny Graves in a park like Cincinnati's, and I suspect he would have trouble in San Francisco as well. Not sure how well he'd do for us, but since I doubt we're in the mix for *anyone* at this point (after all, Mo seems satisfied with what we have), it doesn't really matter.

[doe_boy]

King Felix hasn't had his obligatory major arm injury yet.

He's 26 and has been pitching ML ball since 19.

[jagtrader]

I'm generally very pro-trade at the deadline. Not this season. Cards will have lots of money to spend this winter and I'm tired of trading useful parts for mediocre pitchers.

[jim]

I saw Berkman yesterday up close just walking into the dugout and he looked bad just walking. I worry how much he has left in the tank, so I'm not sure Craig's time will decrease much.

[Pudgelewis]

No way am I in favor of trading someone like Craig for SP. Like some others have said, SP hasn't been our problem. Other than some relief help, I say let 'em play.

[FallenFromGrace]

It's laughable that you guys think you can possible get Felix Hernandez for Allen Craig. There is.a laundry list of reasons why this is crazy. Heck, I'm not sure if Craig nets you James Shields much less Felix Hernandez. My guess Seattle would ask for Craig AND at least two of the Cards big four prospects plus a couple of low level prospects for Felix. Allen Craig for Felix Hernandez gets you laugh at before the Seattle GM slams the phone.