They are with the Phillies now

Deal completed.

Only eight days before nailing down ace Cliff Lee for their rotation, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and confidants sat in an Indianapolis hotel suite contemplating a serious setback in their pursuit of pitching.

It was Dec. 8, near the end of the second day of baseball's winter meetings, and Zduriencik and company had just heard that Texas had outbid them for free-agent pitcher Rich Harden.

It shot down one of the team's top pitching targets, and the Mariners suddenly knew their goal of landing a starter was not going to happen at the meetings.

But the next day, a conversation with Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. dramatically altered Seattle's fortunes and started the wheels turning toward the blockbuster deal announced Wednesday

The "they" going to the Phillies referred to in the title of the post are former Timber Rattlers Phillippe Aumont and JC "You remember him as Juan" Ramirez. The pair were teammates on the '08 Rattlers.

Baseball America, we turn our lonely eyes to you...woo, ooo, ooo.

Aumont throws across his body slightly, which gives his pitches above-average life but places additional strain on his shoulder. His heavy sinker ranges from 92-95 mph with plus-plus life down in the zone. He dials his four-seamer up to 98. His mid-70s curveball features occasional plus 12-to-6 break, especially when he repeats his high three-quarters arm slot and gets extension on the front side of his delivery. The biggest thing holding Aumont him back is an overall lack of command in the zone, but if he discovers it he has true closer potential.
...
Ramirez has mid-rotation potential if he can improve his concentration on the mound and learn to repeat his delivery and arm slot. He's a physical, durable righthander who has proven capable of handling increased workloads each season. Though Ramirez's command wavers, his stuff is top-shelf, beginning with a lively 92-94 mph fastball that he also four-seams at 96-97 when necessary. He can spin a quality, high-70s slider, but the pitch lacks consistent tilt because he often drops his hands during delivery, which lowers his arm slot.

These are the most positive things I've read about these two since discussion of this trade began. Also, I can't wait until the next Ask BA with Jim Callis. Because you know he's going to get the "Where does [insert prospect name here] fit in your top 10 of [insert organization name here] after the trade?