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Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, July 17, 2008 07:25 PM | Comments: 207
Posts
The Phillies have traded infielder Adrian Cardenas, pitcher Josh Outman and outfielder Matt Spencer to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Joe Blanton. The right-hander is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA this season.
More on the deal later, including analysis.
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Posts: 0 Josh
I’d be lying if I said I was excited about this trade. We’ll just have to see how it works out.
Posted: 07:26 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Hell be better in the National League
Posted: 07:31 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg
How do you suppose he’ll be better? Yeah the lineups are weaker, but he goes from one of the most pitcher friendly parks to one of if not the most hitter friendly park. Just look at his home/road splits. His era is more than a full point higher pitching away from oakland.
Posted: 07:36 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Mixed feelings, we got the guy without having to give up one of the big 4 but I really liked Outman to bolster the pen, we may really regret making Cardenas available over Golson somewhere down the line…
On the positive Blanton’s one of the best middle of the rotation guys in the game despite his down year. Blanton/Moyer/Kendrick at the back-end of the rotation’s going to be something opposing teams wont look forward to, that’s like trying to hike through a swamp.
Posted: 07:36 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 ActuallyChilled
phillies felt that they had to do something. anything. thats the only reason this went through.
in all honesty, it pisses me off a bit. i would rather have the phillies gamble on their young prospects. I’m sick of the team wasting 3 or 4 years of ‘development’ in the minors, while we see longoria ripping it up and age 22, braun, however old he is, etc.
I am acting a bit on emotions here but im just tired of this front office shit from the phillies. they always get stuck in these positions and over pay guys that won’t perform on the staff. At least i’m not a rangers fan though, i dont know how frustrated I would be with that team. they even have the ex-phillies staff. on that note, i dont think blanton is much different than a padilla coming back on the team.
either way, phillies will still have to land another big starter sometime in the future, because this isn’t the only year they have to compete.
I hope that they bring Happ up and keep eaton as a long reliever. that way, blanton becomes a slight improvement over eaton, happ will be reasonable solid but could disrupt, and you plug in meyers and hope he works again.
even if blanton does well, i just cant imagine that he erupts into better career.
Posted: 07:39 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 chris m
rental?
Posted: 07:40 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 chris m
What’s his contract? Rental?
Posted: 07:41 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
He’s arbitration eligible after the season I believe, so Phils would have control of him for the next season.
Posted: 07:42 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 David
Giving up our top prospect, in Cardenas, and Outman, who was lights out this winter and in Reading before he was moved to the pen, for Joe Blanton is a lot. I’m happy they didn’t give up the farm for Burnett or Bedard, but I feel like bringing up Carrasco and Happ would be a strong compliment to Hamels, Moyer, and Kendrick.
I agree, I am sure that we will be better in the National League but why not give Happ and Carrasco a chance before making the move. Kendrick had average numbers in AA and was a big contributer last year. We’ll see.
Posted: 07:42 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
i actually think blanton will improve a bit and be very good next year for some reason. i dont know why. i hope someone teaches him how to throw a sinker though. right now though it looks like beane is the man still. look at the moves hes made in the past year. totallyh amazing rebuilding job.
ill bet they move outman to starting
Posted: 07:43 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Well…. at least Gillick convinced the Phillies’ owners that they can afford to pay Blanton’s salary. (chuckle)
Posted: 07:44 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 doubleh
I believe Blanton isn’t a free agent until 2011
Posted: 07:46 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
blanton is under team control cheaply for two more years, i believe. hes not arb guy. hes signed for like 3.5mm this year, 5mm next year and i think theres an option after that but not sure
Posted: 07:47 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 randy
anyword recently on benson??
Posted: 07:49 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 doubleh
Benson got absolutely shelled in his last start. He’s not the answer. I think that’s the only reason they went out and got Blanton.
Posted: 07:51 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
The tough pill to swallow is were experimenting with the 2 spot in the rotation, it’s not like it’s the 5 where you just look to get some production. We’re banking a lot on Myers coming back strong.
Posted: 07:51 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Thom
I for some reason like this trade cause outman and cardenes is tuff but he can really help us i mean really who wants to see eaton get on his knees every start anymore i sure as hell dont. I think we got a decent innings eater who is on the b list.
Posted: 07:53 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
wait, nevermind thats wrong i read the wrong guy. hes an arb guy
Posted: 07:54 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
The tough pill to swallow is were experimenting with the 2 spot in the rotation, it’s not like it’s the 5 where you just look to get some production. We’re banking a lot on Myers coming back strong.
Remember we need to feel good about this and Blanton was an A list guy in spring, Cincy almost gave up Homer and Votto for him…
Posted: 07:54 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
So we got a pitcher that is better than 4/5 of our rotation all we gave up was two mediocre prospects and a guy who was blocked on his way to the big leagues anyway. Forgive me if I put a positive spin on this trade too soon, but if we really do have this guy for two more years as well, how could this trade not be a win?
Looking at next year possibly being Hamels, Blanton, Carrasco, Kendrick, Myers. That already looks way better than anything we’ve put out there this year. We didn’t give up our catcher of the future, we didn’t give up Jason Donald, and we didn’t give up Carrasco.
It was a good trade IMO.
Posted: 07:55 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Dave
Okay between Eaton, Myers and this guy, who’s gonna suck less? We need ONE of those three to show up consistantly.
… and can we have Adam Eaton just roll his salary over to Cole Hamels? 7.6 million!? Hookers don’t get that much for sucking.
Posted: 07:59 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
your right on the positive slant but he’s not a number 2 but is that perfect number 3. The best thing about that trade is we can slot our guys where they fit best in the rotation now.
Posted: 08:00 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
Joe Blanton’s struggles have not reached anywhere near the levels of suck that Myers and Eaton have reached this season. It’s apples and oranges.
Posted: 08:01 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
The difference between Myers and Blanton vs Eaton is that Myers and Blanton actually have good stuff. They just have to bring it. A rotation of Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer, and Kendrick all bringing their A game could be ridiculously deadly. As much as we all hate Myers, that guy has ridiculous amounts of potential.
Posted: 08:01 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I agree, Blanton is the perfect #3. He’s not good enough to be a #2, but he can be a great #3. He’ll mow down the NL since the NL has a total of 3 teams with good offenses. Luckily we’re 1 of them, the other 2 are the Cubs and Rox. We don’t even play the Rox again.
Posted: 08:03 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 tom
cardenas was our #2 prospect, outman (according to some people) was semi close to carasco… so it’s not like we didn’t over pay.
but this was bound to happen sooner or later.
Posted: 08:05 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 doubleh
And Blanton dominated us when we faced him. 4 H, 1 R, 7 IP
Posted: 08:05 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 justin
lol the rox… sure
Posted: 08:06 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Right on the money on Myers Phil but Blanton doesn’t have plus stuff and that’s what looks to have hurt him this year. He’s the original Moyer 2.0 of a guy who’s just going to frustrate the opposing team. If we use him right this is a good deal but we stick him in as the 2 and were just aggravating the problem by not addressing it properly.
Posted: 08:06 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 justin
all of you guys trying to make yourself try and feel better about this trade, just give up because this guy will do absolutely nothing but be a sub-par pitcher
Posted: 08:08 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Justin, you do remember that the Rox offense was injured most of the year, right?
Let me just break down their offense.
Holliday
Atkins
Helton
Hawpe
Taveras
Tuluowizki
Spilborgh
Taveras
That’s good.
Posted: 08:08 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
NJ, did you watch the game that Blanton pitched against us? He has plus stuff. He just doesn’t always bring it. He’s never been a great pitcher and he’s never been a bad pitcher. He’s middle of the road, that’s what a #3 is. He’s also going to eat innings.
Posted: 08:09 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
agree with you wholy on that one Phil, was just getting worried we were going to view this guy as a pitcher with plus stuff and end up being disappointed when he seems like isn’t bringing it.
Posted: 08:13 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 justin
phil, you do remember that they play in colorado
Posted: 08:14 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
Hey justin, that sub par pitcher is still better than what we are putting out there for the 2-5 spots. Nobody is trying to make themselves feel better about that, it’s pretty much fact. And the fact is Cardenas was bound to go somewhere.
Posted: 08:15 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg V.
This is great because I just bought World Series tickets on StubHub! LOL!
Posted: 08:19 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Joshua
FACT: Blanton is BETTER then Eaton.
that’s all that matters.
Posted: 08:20 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Jeremy
Blanton’s numbers get skewed by 4 of 20 starts with 6+ earned runs. He gives up a lot of hits, but keeps the ball in the yard (but he hasn’t pitched in CBP yet).
He’s a classic 7 inning, 2-4 run guy (which should be all this offense needs) that should be a Phillie for at least the next few seasons. He’s a low #2 or high #3 starter. Good move by the Phils
Posted: 08:20 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Something tells me the Phillies aren’t done trading. I think we’re going to try and snag Bedard too.
Posted: 08:33 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
thye have other needs, they better not be done
Posted: 08:36 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
They can continue to give the farm up as long as said farm doesn’t include Marson and Carrasco.
Posted: 08:38 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Bill
Another gamble. Can’t we just once trade for a sure thing?
http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum/
Posted: 08:40 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 christopher
cardenas is a mediocre prospect? somebody doesn’t know anything about our farm system.
we overpaid big time but blanton will be good for the rotation. the question now is what happens with the rest of the rotation? does eaton become long relief? is there a trade brewing involving myers? i have to think there’s another trade on the horizon here.
Posted: 08:44 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
i think theyre trying to move myers for some kind of other help. i also think theyre preparing to DFA and pay eaton to get rid of him. noone will trade for eaton. blanton is a decent number 3 guy who eats more innings than moyer and kendrick do. its an improvement. not the greatest thing, but a decent improvement. we still got taken by beane though. beane knows all.
Posted: 08:49 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Oh I agree, they should have dropped Donald over Cardenas. We still have Donald, Golson, Savery, Drabek, Bastrado, amongst others to trade. We can still get other things with that.
Posted: 08:51 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Groty
Cardenas vs. Donald
Outman vs. Carrasco, Bastardo or Happ
Spencer vs. Well, where will he pan out?
Blanton, a bona fide starter, 27 years old, and not a short-term rental.
Gillick didn’t give away the house. I am shocked!
No, I hate to see Outman and Cardenas gone, but not as miserable as I’d be if Marson, Carrasco, Donald, or Golson went in the deal.
Posted: 08:52 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
More good news Mets are down 5-4 against the Reds. Reds scored 5 runs against Sucktana.
Posted: 08:53 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 James Beale
I know I wrote something to this effect yesterday (http://sportscomplex.blogs.citypaper.net/blogs/mu/2008/07/16/fire-up-the-joe-blanton-rumors/)
But I’m a fan of Blanton, he’s a second half pitcher and because he gets so much better as games and ABs drag on (check out his batting average against splits in different counts) he becomes even more effective in the postseason
Posted: 08:54 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
If Harden breaks down we got a better trade than the Cubs, if he doesn’t then they did. One thing you all need to remember is Harden rarely goes more than 6 innings. Blanton rarely goes under 6.
Posted: 08:58 PM on July 17, 2008
Posts: 0 cramer
WTF
Blanto could be a setup man if he could lower his ERA. Of course, this would be a backup to Romero. But 5-12? He cant use the ould ” i dont get run support” excuse for his shitty record. He flat out sucks. one year contract: sure. two year: maybe. He’s not a long term guy.
The 1 good thing about him is we could trade him to teams desprate for a better starter for AAA prospects.
Posted: 09:00 PM on July 17, 2008