Trade: Phillies bolster the rotation with Cliff Lee
Let me come out first and say this right off, I love this trade. The Phillies traded Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Class A righty Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson and shortstop Jason Donald will be sent to Cleveland. Carrasco is behind J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek, Knapp is a stud, but is 18 and 2-3 years away, Marson is behind Carlos Ruiz, and Donald behind either Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies didn’t lose any crucial parts for their future. Whereas Drabek could be in the rotation next year and Dominic Brown could be in the outfield in the next year or so.
That said…
There is a little less than 48 hours left in the trade deadline an the Phillies have some major tradable pieces to go out and strengthen the bullpen. Hell, Cito Gaston even joked that the Phillies could still get Halladay – they still have the pieces to get him.
Cliff Lee is the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has been pitching really well, and is half the price of Halladay. Everyone in this city has been going crazy demanding only one player thinking that this was a guarantee of the World Series but remember this – the Brewers got C.C. Sabathia last year and the Cubs got Rich Harden and neither team made it past the first round. Roy Halladay guaranteed nothing.
Outstanding questions:
- Who is the odd man out of the rotation? Pedro Martinez or Happ?
- The Phillies picked up Ben Francisco, a right handed batting outfielder, so who’s out? John Mayberry Jr or Eric Bruntlett?
- Are there other trades in the offing?
It’s a great time to be a Phillies fan. Not only are we buyers, but we’re buying five star properties and have minor league prospects that other teams covet. Gotta love it. Great job Rueben.