Done Deal: Phillies Acquire Lee
Posted by Amanda Orr, Wed, July 29, 2009 01:58 PM | Comments: 184
Acquisitions, Posts
Fox Sports reports that the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal that sends Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. Both team still have to examine medical records before the deal is official.
Francisco is the right-handed bat that the Phillies have been looking for. Francisco is batting .250 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs. Lee is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He is the reigning American League Cy Young winner.
OPINION: This is a great deal for the Phillies. They keep Kyle Drabek, J.A Happ, Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown, their top prospects. Knapp has a lot of potential, but Marson and Donald were being blocked anyway, and Carlos Carrasco has been falling off the radar. Not only do they get a former Cy Young winner, but a bat off the bench.
Posts: 0 Tony
Rotation: (Now that is some pitching depth)
Cole Hamels
Cliff Lee
Joe Blanton
J.A. Happ
Pedro Martinez
Jamie Moyer
Rodrigo Lopez
Kyle Drabek
Good job Ruben!! and you got us a right handed bat
Posted: 02:07 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Paul
I really like this deal for the Phils, even if it was just Lee. But to get Francisco too? He’s a pretty good right handed bat to have on the bench.
Posted: 02:08 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
God, thats a lotta lefties. Nice trade. And got the righty bat thrown in. Mayberry down. Now need the utility infielder and a bullpen arm.
The Dipsy
Posted: 02:12 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Good Night Joe Carter
I am very proud of Ruben for not giving in and telling the Blue Jays to go screw themselves. The right handed bat off the bench and not having to lose Drabek, Taylor, or Brown are huge.
Posted: 02:18 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Hmmmm. September 1, 2009
LHP Cliff Lee
LHP Cole Hamels
RHP Joe Blanton
LHP J.A. Happ
LHP Jamie Moyer
RHP Chad Durbin
RHP Can Ho Park
RHP Clay Condrey
RHP Pedro Martinez
RHP Rodrigo Lopez
RHP Brad Lidge
RHP Ryan Madson
LHP Scott Eyre
LHP J.P. Romero
Do I smell a “closer controversy”?
The Dipsy
Posted: 02:23 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 BrewTownPhilsPhan
Any trade that upgrades our rotation without loosing Happ is a brilliant move! You can’t take away pieces that are performing like Happ is and expect miracles. I’m very happy with this trade!
Posted: 02:23 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg B
EAT Sh$t, JP! His bluff was called. Good deal. I would have liked to see Marson backing up Ruiz, but what can you do?
So, as they line up at this point the Phils have 4 lefties in the rotation?
Posted: 02:25 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
I am so happy for this deal, for starters now I can sleep:)
Hamels, Lee, Blanton, Happ, Moyer
Great rotation.
Forget about Drabek and others, they will come into the picture next year and that is what I am most happy about. We got the front line starter for 2 years, No he is not Halladay, but the reigning Cy Young with no run support in Cleveland, he will get it here. We keep the ROY candidate Happ, got a right handed bat for our bench.
Next year you have this possibly
Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Happ, Drabek
This years bullpen, Dipsy, may come from within. Martinez and Myers would be great additions to a tired bullpen and a possible closer if Lidge keeps doing what he did last night.
This is not as big of a headliner as Halladay is but we only sent players that are blocked or are good prospects but not Drabek.
Dom Brown and Taylor are still here
Posted: 02:26 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Fransisco’s the perfect 4th outfielder for this team. He hits, walks, hits doubles, can take a base and has show he can produce as an everyday outfielder if the team suffers an injury.
We all wanted Halladay whether it was guns blazing or conservatively but as has been said, to get Cliff Lee and not give up Happ or either of the top 3 prospects is just a fantastic deal and the Indians got theirs.
While JP Riccardi and his people were in front of the media daily unwilling to enter into serious negotiations with anyone, Mark Shapiro the godfather of the ‘trade-deadline deal’ floats his guy, was reported to have asked for a lot but was prepared to do what it takes to get a deal done. He gets 3 guys that can step in from day 1 and a guy who could very well ascend to being a top 25 prospect. I’m thrilled for Carrasco and Marson who are actually going to get to go somewhere their not going to have to worry about starring from he get-go.
Pat on the back to Ruben, he’s got some kahunas
Posted: 02:28 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 traderjack
now they can trade Lee, Taylor and Happ to get Halladay and then the Jays trade Lee back to the Indians for Carrasco and Donald
Posted: 02:30 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Wonder if the Phils might try and sneak Pedro Martinez into a save situation…
Great deal for Phillies Nation! Not often you see something get done when everyone’s (including the other teams) happy
Posted: 02:33 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 william
Now they can trade Happ, Drabek and Brown to the Jays for Halladay and knock Hamels to the #3 slot
Halladay,Lee,Hamels,Blanton,Moyer
Yes I’m dreaming but WOW that would be a good rotatiion
Posted: 02:36 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe NJ
You don’t know how Lee performace in postseason.
Posted: 02:37 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Josh
I’m still confused as to how Pedro fits in. Will he just happily take a bullpen role, or will we give him a chance to start and put Happ back in the pen since we’ll have 4 lefties in the rotation otherwise.
Posted: 02:37 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Ben
nice deal, will be interesting to see us throw out all those lefties come playoff time. matchups are always big, but nothing like getting a guy like lee. can’t wait to see what lee does against the NL.
what does his contract look like? i know its cheaper, but for how many years is he signed?
Posted: 02:37 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
RUBEN YOU ARE A GENIUS! We keep Happ, Drabek, Taylor AND Brown (ALL OUR TOP 3 PROSPECTS).
And frankly, this is a good deal for the Indians, too.
Posted: 02:38 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Ben- Looks like Cliff Lee is eligible for free agency after this season with an $8MM club option ($1MM buyout).
And the Jays still say they have to be ‘wowed’ to move Halladay… Oh the relief
Posted: 02:44 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 4daysrest.com
Other moves have to fall. They have too much.
Posted: 02:45 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 philsphan
Joe NJ,
We don’t know how Halladay would do in the postseason either.
Posted: 02:47 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Havoc
Ahhh… it’s finally over now we can just lazily think about unloading Rodrigo Lopez & Kendrick for some more bullpen depth…
By the way Ruben deserves GM of the year award for how he managed the arbitration cases in the offseason, snagging Raul Ibanez, and now getting a #1 starter without giving up our top pitching propsect, the rookie of the year, and our top hitting prospect. This is an incredible steal for the Phitins!
Posted: 02:48 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Indians are still looking to move Victor Martinez.. possibly to the Red Sox.
for Clay Buchholz.. etc..
They can maybe move their two guys and get something like 7-8 solid prospects in return.
How many hours until Riccardi fired. I tried to post earlier that the deal without Knapp wasn’t going to happen.. he was the TOP guy in the deal.. Great move by Ruben … I still think we’ve got a chance at Halladay too.. call me crazy
Posted: 02:50 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
JP will be fired the day after the Phillies win the World Series again and Cliff Lee and Hamels are co MVPs:)
Best trade in years for this club. If anyone would go to the pen if Martinez squeezes in my guess would be Moyer since Romero has been dinged. Otherwise Martinez will go to the pen and don’t forget about Myers mid Aug.:)
This team looks scary on paper!! 100 wins?
Posted: 02:53 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Cole Lat
GREAT MOVE!
I’m still not sure on drabek being untouchable considering he’s coming off of tommy john, may be undersized, and is still untested at the major league level, but hey the higher ups know more than I do, and if they’re that sold on certain players then you simply can’t move them. Acquiring a reigning cy young pitcher without giving up any of our 3 top 25 prospects, solid move!
Thank you philliesnation for the great coverage. As soon as you read the report from lv this morning you had to think something was up.
Now we just cross our fingers and hope richardi stands pat and doesn’t trade doc to the redsox cause I’d still be worried about that rotation come October.
Let’s go get it Phils!
Posted: 02:53 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Joe NJ – Good point. I’m sure Lee will suck in the post season. Now what happens when Ricciardi comes back and says “Happ, Taylor, and a little more for Halladay. Its totally a sick thought but what if he did? Nice deal, Ruben. Martinez would take to end of game guy like a duck to water. Let that fastball fly and not have to worry about innings. Could hit 92-93 on the radar gun. Myers duking it out with Lidge if Lidge doesn’t shape up. Trade Lopez for an A ball prospect/suspect. They have trade bait to get a quality infield bat and a lefty reliever. They can do a LOT right now.
The Dipsy
Posted: 02:56 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian
I’m curious to know how much fresh scouting the Indians have on the Phills farm system this year. I know they sent an army of scouts our way when we were going after Sabathia last year. At this point last year, Carrasco, Donald and Marson were much better prospects than this year.
Posted: 02:57 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 philsphan
Jeff of Nova,
You’re crazy. There’s no way we could take on an additional 15 million next year along with Lee’s 9. But we can dream…
Posted: 02:59 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 pb
Love the deal, I predict JMJR is moved for a reliever at now at some point for the dead line
Posted: 03:01 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Tools of Ignorance
Great trade….Of course everybody still wondering if there’s a way to bring Halladay over.
Posted: 03:02 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 XjasonX
what’s also nice is that maybe by the end of next month we could have Myers in the bullpen for the end of the season/playoffs…things are looking up for phillies nation!
Posted: 03:04 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
JP is SCRAMBLING now. This was a stroke of masterful brilliance by Ruben. Now all they need is a utility inf better than bruntlett and a good relief pitcher like Grabow or Capps to bolster the depth of the bullpen.
francisco solves a LOT of problems for this team too…Cleveland went for quantity and upside here.
Posted: 03:04 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 philsphan
Oh sorry, last post was @ Don M
Posted: 03:04 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
A suspicously good deal for the Phils.
Posted: 03:06 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Mazinman
Wow! Increadible job by Ruben. My heart was set of Halladay but I cannot disagree with this deal. I would take Happ and Lee in the rotation over just Halladay. We get a CY Cyoung award winner and keep our future intact.
Posted: 03:06 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
I doubt we’re going to see any more movement except dealing Lopez (which was an unfathomable idea when he signed his minor-league deal). I really don’t see the Phils finding an upgrade over Bruntlett who now really is your glove man and Stairs, Dobbs and Franciso, that can be some real damage off the bench.
Unless one of JC, Durbin and Condrey aren’t expected back this year with Pedro destined to go to the pen and have Myers joining him, the need for a reliever doesn’t look urgent, am sure the Phils will still look though.
Posted: 03:10 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Brett
This is awesome. They got rid of the expendables and managed to keep the real top prospects. Awesome move by Ruben.
Posted: 03:15 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
Philsphan,
What in the world are you talking about, I have not made a mention of salary once I think you are mistaken in who that is directed at!
Posted: 03:17 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Repeat!
The Phillies are now officially a member of MLB’s “Big Boys Club”. The Yankees and Redsox respectfully welcome you. Please stay awhile.
Posted: 03:18 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike N
I wouldn’t mind seeing Drabek out of the pen in september and the playoffs, a la david Price last year. Maybe he’s not ready for it, but if his stuff is that good, and no major league hitters have ever seen him, he could get some guys out.
Posted: 03:22 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
It shows how deep of system has become to be able to give up your number 1 pitching prospect going into the year, your number 2 pitching prospect in the system at the time of the trade in Knapp, and two guys capable of playing everyday by opening day for the Indians AND still have Happ, 3 top 25 prospects and lots more to like in rookieball through to AA.
Posted: 03:22 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Morris Buttermaker
I liked the trade alot. And then I turned on my radio and heard both Eskin and Missanelli complaining about it. I now love it. Great move.
Posted: 03:24 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Groty
Deadline hasn’t hit yet.
A) Will Happ still be starting tonight or could he be part of a package for Sherill?
B) If Happ stays, move Moyer to bullpen?
Marson is gone but we still have Travis D’Arnaud!!
Posted: 03:25 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 philsphan
Yea haha sorry Jeff, I corrected myself a couple posts above you
Posted: 03:28 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Joey
What is Lees contract situation? I like the move but we did give up a lot. I think the fact three of these guys were top of the line prospects this time last year shows how much we really gave up and how fickle we can be when it comes to prospects (ok and pros). I think you need to lock up Chooch for two-four years now.
.
Posted: 03:29 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Mazinman
You know, it just dawned on me that even after this trade we still have enough talent to go after Halladay. I’m not saying the Phillies should do that as I am very happy with Lee just that its amazing how intact this trade left our farm and how much talent we have waiting to come up.
Posted: 03:31 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Now let’s just hope that Rodrigo Lopez DAZZLES in his next start and maybe someone out there would give us a “Carrasco” or a “Marson” back! hehe…
Seriously, this is awesome. Since the all-star break Lee is 3-0 is 1.44 ERA.
When will he start?? August 1st, perhaps?? …skipping Moyer’s start against Lincecum and keeping Lee on normal rest… Holy crap, this is great.
Posted: 03:31 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Disulfide
good deal for sure!
Eskin is a putz.
Posted: 03:33 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
If we can trade Moyer for that situational lefty or Bruntlett replacement, and thats a big “if”, then do it. No “he’s a second pitching coach” baloney please. Lopez worth anything?…then get it. Lefty for the pen (giving Charlie 3 moves outta the pen) and a RH utility guy (Switch hitter would be too much to ask). Is Jose Oquendo available?
The Dipsy
Posted: 03:33 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Kennedy
Wow, that’s a nice trade. Knapp is a great chip, good player but replaceable in the draft. Marson and Donald are blocked, and Carrasco is a #3 starter in a year, but out team has a slew of #3 starters in the minors.
Great deal for both sides.
SP:
Lee
Hamels
Blanton
Moyer
RP:
Eyre
Romero
Madson
Condrey
Durbin
Myers
Chan Ho
Lidge
Swingmen:
Pedro
Happ
Lopez
I’m thinking 6 man rotation, send Pedro to the pen. DL Lidge til he gets his “swagger” back. Start getting everybody nice and rested for October.
Above all, keep Hamels and Happ from throwing too many innings.
Posted: 03:36 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Havoc
Anybody against this deal is a fool. Halladay is better sure, but the Phils just got something great for stuff they didn’t need. The team is much improved and a playoff rotation of Hamels, Lee, Blanton, Happ is miles better than what we sent into the game last year. And if it’s possible our Offense seems better this year than last year. I am feeling very very optimistic.
“Still the beasts of the NL East.”
Posted: 03:41 PM on July 29, 2009
Posts: 0 Repeat!
Maziman…. I’m thinking the same thing. RA and the Phillies Brass have another block buster in the works.
Posted: 03:41 PM on July 29, 2009