The Los Angeles Dodgers grabbed one of the available closers at the MLB Trade Deadline, taking Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for prospects Leon Landry and Logan Bawcom. Leon Landry, a third-rounder back in the 2010 MLB Draft, has put up big numbers in the hitter-friendly California League, hitting .328/.358/.559 with 26 doubles and 15 triples after a disappointing 2011 season. He'll need to work on his plate discipline to reach the major leagues, but his speed-based game will be a good fit at hitter-throttling Safeco Field; Bawcom, a 17th-rounder in the same draft, is a AA reliever with impresssive strikeout rates.
It's a good haul for the Mariners, and a lot to give up for a relief pitcher with low strikeout rates in his three seasons in Seattle. The St. Louis Cardinals were reportedly interested in League, but if Landry and Bawcom were the price they can be forgiven for passing on him. League, who has 54 career saves across an MLB career that began in 2004, will be a free agent after the season.
The Mariners, who've already traded Ichiro Suzuki, are likely to shop Jason Vargas and some additional relievers as the trade deadline nears. For more coverage all day, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis's MLB Trade Deadline storystream.