Come To Think of It: Phillies Look Like Clear Winners in Cliff Lee Trade
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians have agreed to a trade that will send 2008 Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee to the Phillies for four minor leaguers, ESPN.com’s Jason Stark is reporting.
According to Stark, league sources are saying that the deal is pending physical exams.
In Lee, the defending world champs are acquiring an ace pitcher without sacrificing their top prospect, Kyle Drabek. And they had a need for quality starting pitching help.
Cole Hamels has a 4.42 ERA. Brett Myers had hip surgery in June. The seemingly ageless Jamie Moyer has 10 wins, but a hefty 5.32 ERA.
The soon to be 31-year-old Lee is quietly having another good season for the Indians, despite a losing record due to a lack of run support.
Lee has a 3.14 ERA and has walked just 33 in 152 innings. He comes cheaper than Halladay in terms of salary too. Lee will have an option for $9 million in 2010, and he’ll be eligible for free agency.
Look, you only get so many chances to repeat as a World Series champion, so when you get the opportunity, you go for it.
And that is just what the Phillies have done.
Along with Lee, Philadelphia gets outfielder Ben Francisco. In return, they send Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Class A righty Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson, and shortstop Jason Donald to Cleveland.
Philly’s ballpark should not present an insurmountable obstacle for Lee to overcome. Yes, he is a flyball pitcher, but as Stark points out, he has the second lowest flyball to home run percentage for pitchers in the major leagues.
But the best part of this trade may well be that the Phillies got their ace starting pitcher without having to give up the package that Toronto was asking for—Roy Halladay.
According to Stark, “The Phillies weren’t required to give up pitcher J.A. Happ or the three prospects they balked at trading for Roy Halladay—outfielders Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor, and pitcher Kyle Drabek.”
Jason Knapp is a 19-year-old pitcher who, according to ESPN’s Keith Law, may be the key to the deal for the Indians. But he is currently sidelined with a shoulder issue and may be a couple years away.
The other pieces to the deal are no sure things either. Jason Donald projects as a league average shortstop defensively. Catcher Lou Marson hits for little power, though he now appears to be the heir to Victor Martinez, who is likely the next to go.
Carlos Carrasco has a plus fastball, but not much else. And Law offers this somewhat shocking assessment of the young right-hander:
“…his on-field makeup has been a major question for two years; he doesn’t respond well to adversity between the lines and, according to multiple sources, was so upset about seeing his name in trade talks last year that he pulled himself from a start during warm-ups and may have deliberately pitched poorly to try to hurt his trade value “
In Francisco, the Phillies obtain much needed right-handed help off the bench. He is not a starter but can play all three outfield positions.
Phillies Come up Huge in Trade for Cliff Lee
Everyone knew the Phillies were in talks to add a big-time starting pitcher.
On Wednesday, they finally got one.
They got Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco from the Cleveland Indians for minor leaguers Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson.
They got the 2008 American League Cy Young Award Winner and did not have to give up Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor or J.A. Happ.
For the Phillies, this is a blockbuster of a trade that just improved their chances of not only making the postseason, but potentially repeating as National League Champions and World Series Champions.
This is also the first big trade made by first-year General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., and he made a great deal.
Most of the baseball world knew Amaro was in negotiations with the Blue Jays to get Roy Halladay. Toronto General Manager J.P Ricciardi wanted Drabek and Happ as the starting offer, but Amaro didn’t want to part with either one of them.
His counter-offer was similar to the package the Indians got, but Ricciardi rejected it. He did so, hoping to get the Phillies to up their offer and include Drabek and Happ.
But now that the Phillies have gotten Lee, and didn’t surrender Drabek or Happ, Ricciardi lost his leverage in those negotiations.
The Phillies are adding Lee to a rotation with Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP who has been pitching better of late; Joe Blanton, who also is pitching better; Happ, who is 7-1; and Rodrigo Lopez, who has surprisingly given the Phillies quality starts.
The Phillies could add Pedro Martinez to the mix. He is currently pitching in the minor leagues to get his arm ready for major league hitters.
So now, the defending champions just got stronger and better in the one area that was considered their weakness.
What makes this an even smarter deal? Lee has an $8 million dollar club option that is easily affordable to the Phillies. If Lee is dominant, I easily see the Phillies picking up his option and keeping him in the rotation for at least 2010.
Lee is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 152 innings pitched with 107 strikeouts and just 33 walks. Those numbers on a dismal Indians team are phenomenal. The 7-9 record is due to Lee not getting any run support from Cleveland whatsoever. In Philadelphia, that won’t be the case, especially in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Lee will get plenty of run support from Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.
The Phillies have gotten hot since the All Star Break. They were on a 10-game winning streak and currently have won eight of their last ten games. They are now seven games in front in the N.L. East race after at one point being only a half game up on the Florida Marlins. The Phillies are getting stronger as this season is progressing and now adding Lee only helps their winning surge.
Kudos to the Phillies and Amaro for pulling this deal off and for not backing down in the Halladay negotiations. Ricciardi made himself look really bad there and Amaro looked really smart.
Can anyone stop the Phillies now?
Joe Blanton Having Solid Season for Philadelphia Phillies
July 29, 2009 by Eric Boehm
Filed under Fan News
While much of the attention has been focused on Cole Hamels’ struggles, J.A. Happ’s impressive rookie campaign, and the Phillies’ deadline shopping options; Joe Blanton has quietly established himself as the team’s most dependable starter over the past two months.
When he was acquired from Oakland last season, Blanton came with a reputation as an “innings-eater.” While he was certainly solid (4-0, 4.20 ERA) in his 13 starts with the Phillies last season, he averaged only slightly better than 5 1/3 innings per start during that span, more than a full inning below his career average. Not exactly the bullpen-savior many believed he would be.
This year has been a different story entirely.
Through July 26, when he went eight innings against St. Louis in his 19th start of the season, Blanton has been averaging 6 1/3 innings per start. That stat only tells part of the story, because Blanton has been getting progressively better each month this year:
· In April, Blanton was 0-2 with an 8.41 ERA in four starts while averaging only five innings per start.
· His five starts in May lasted an average of 6 1/3 innings each, while he went 3-1 with a 4.65 ERA.
· June was even better, though Blanton (and the Phillies at-large) struggled to get wins. He averaged 6 1/3 innings per start once again, with a 3.62 ERA and a monthly record of 1-1.
· July, though, has surpassed all the others. Blanton has been a spectacular 3-0 this month with an ERA of only 1.21. He has pitched into the eighth inning three times this month and has averaged close to 7 2/3 innings per start.
Blanton’s most impressive achievement of the season might be that he has lowered his ERA in every single start since May 26. After entering that game against Florida with a 7.11 ERA, Blanton has reduced that number by three whole runs in the span of only two months. His ERA sits at 4.11 following Sunday’s win over St. Louis.
In the 11 starts he has made dating back to May 26, Blanton has averaged over 6 2/3 innings per start and has a record of 5-1. The Phillies have been only 6-5 in those starts, thanks to their poor performance in support of Blanton during the month of June, which accounts for all five of the losses.
If he pitches well over the next two months, this should go down as the best season of Blanton’s career. He may not win 16 games like he did in 2007 with Oakland, and his ERA may not be as low as the 3.53 mark that he posted in 2005, but the complete package is stronger this year. And, at 28, Blanton is young enough to make you believe he can still get even better.
With the addition of Cliff Lee, Blanton will slide into the No. 3 spot in the rotation, which is a good thing. As good as he has been, you have to be a little nervous with him matched up against another elite team’s No. 2 guy in a postseason series. In the No. 3 spot, he compares much more favorably.
Hamels, Happ, and Lee might be getting most of the attention this year, but if Blanton keeps pitching seven innings or more every time he takes the hill, more people should take notice.
Why Cliff Lee and the Phillies Are a Great Fit
July 29, 2009 by josh levitt
Filed under Fan News
If you’re a Phillies fan, there are plenty of reasons to like the acquisition of Cliff Lee.
1. He’s an ace.
2. The Phillies get to keep Kyle Drabek and Domenick Brown
3. He’s signed through 2010…
4. …at a reasonable rate.
5. Hamels and Lee are a great 1-2 punch.
6. The Phillies are now as good as any team, on paper.
7. Philadelphia gets to keep J.A. Happ.
8. The Phillies get to keep Michael Taylor.
9. Ben Francisco is a solid right-handed bat, even if he’s a weak defender.
10. October.
But you know why I like it—because Lee does not give up home runs. In 152 innings this season, Lee has only given up 10 home runs. And in 223 innings last season, Lee only gave up 12 home runs.
In addition, according to fangraphs, Lee’s flyball percentage this season is a very manageable 35 percent, and his home run per flyball rate is only 5.8 percent this season.
Why are home runs and flyballs so important with Lee? Because the Phillies play in the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark, which is a bandbox second to only the new Yankee Stadium. It’s vital that the Phillies have pitchers who are not prone to the longball, because that type of pitcher has a high probability of getting hit hard in Citizens Bank Park.
There is no guarantee that these stats will lead to wins for Lee, but this a great risk for the Phillies, and it gives them a deep rotation to balance out a strong and balanced offense.
Cliff Lee Trade: A Coup For Philadelphia Phillies’ GM Amaro
Pundits predicted Phillies GM Ruben Amaro’s tenure would be defined by how he handled this year’s trading deadline.
The verdict? This guy’s good.
Amaro managed to wrangle the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner away from Cleveland. And didn’t have to give up possible rookie-of-the-year candidate J.A. Happ, who is 7-1 on the season.
He didn’t have to part with Kyle Drabek, the crown jewel of the farm system. He got to keep top prospects Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor.
And now he gets to add Cliff Lee to his rotation of reigning World Series MVP Cole Hamels, Happ, Joe Blanton and either Pedro Martinez or Jamie Moyer.
All this for a team that is now 19-5 in July and sporting a seven game lead in the NL East.
Naysayers are sulking, complaining we didn’t get the top guy available. Fair enough. But when have the Phillies EVER gotten the top guy?
Normally it’s a “middle-tier” guy, like Kyle Lohse, or “Average Joe” Blanton. The fact that the Phillies were even in the conversation to get the top guy is out of character.
Well, at least it was until the Phillies became 2008 World Champions. When else in team history has Plan B arrived sporting his Cy Young Award?
Not to mention the shot-in-the-dark Cy Young winner in Pedro Martinez that’s getting into shape up in Allentown? Sure, Pedro’s not the same guy he was ten years ago. But if he can pitch as well or better than Rodrigo Lopez—who’s done a great job for the Phils—combined with the Phil’s potent offense, you could be looking at the first NL team to repeat as World Series Champs since the Big Red Machine in the mid ’70s.
This deal follows the offseason signing of Raul Ibañez, who is among the league leaders in home runs and started the All-Star Game.
Not bad for a rookie GM.
Can’t wait to see what he does for an encore.
With the Farm Still Intact After Cliff Lee Deal, Phillies’ Repeat Hopes Grow
July 29, 2009 by christian karcole
Filed under Fan News
For nearly three weeks, Roy Halladay was the presumed starting pitcher the Philadelphia Phillies would acquire at the trading deadline.
Yet the Toronto Blue Jays’ overwhelming asking price became too much, as the Phillies were unwilling to give up their top two prospects, Kyle Drabek and Dominic Brown. The Phillies were also unwilling to give up current starter J.A. Happ.
Happ lost his first start last Friday since his major league debut, which ran across a span of 32 appearances.
But less than one hour ago, it was reported that the Phillies have moved on from the Halladay sweepstakes and traded for Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee.
Lee, who won the Cy Young Award for the American League last season, has a 7-9 record this season with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
The Phillies also acquired outfielder Ben Francisco, who is a right-handed bat the Phillies will be able to bring off the bench when needed.
Moving to Cleveland are pitching prospects Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, catcher Lou Marson, and infielder Jason Donald.
Knapp, a second-round pick in 2008, has the highest potential of any of the four. At 18 years old, Knapp is not ready to be moved to the majors, but has a few years to improve.
He is 6’5″, 240 pounds, and throws a menacing 98 MPH.
Carrasco’s hype has died down after his disappointing showing in the minors this season, yet he remains a top pitching prospect. He was overtaken by Kyle Drabek as the Phillies’ No. 1 minor leaguer this season.
Marson has played very well in the minors this season and is likely going to be a solid catcher in the majors. His short time with the Phillies this season was not impressive, yet he returned to the minors soon after and continued his great play.
Marson was expendable due to the fact that the Phillies’ Single-A catching prospect, Travis D’Arnaud, appears to have more potential. Marson is much further along than D’Arnaud, and with Carlos Ruiz as the apparent Phillies catcher for the next few seasons, D’Arnaud is a better fit.
Donald was a highly touted infielder coming into spring training, yet with Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins already occupying the middle infield, he has no place on the team. His trade value wouldn’t have been higher than now, and the Phillies have zero use for him in the future.
The Phillies addressed two of their most gaping holes by acquiring a No. 1 pitcher and a right-handed bat off the bench, while the Indians acquired four high-potential prospects, all of which except for Knapp will be major league-ready in 2010.
Both teams saw improvements, and neither hurt the state of its chances of winning in the near future.
Marson and Donald were very expendable for the Phillies, and Carrasco was the pitcher the Phillies were most looking to use in a trade.
Knapp is an extremely talented pitcher, and the Phillies would have loved to keep him. But if you want the best, you need to give the best (or close to it).
Many Phillies fans will be left unhappy, as they were drooling at the fact of having a Cole Hamels/Halladay combination at the top of the rotation. But in all honesty, the difference in price between Halladay and Lee was too large.
Acquiring Halladay would have meant giving up Drabek, Happ, Brown, either Michael Taylor or Marson, and possibly even Knapp. The fact that none of Drabek, Happ, Brown, or Taylor was dealt to the Indians shows how extreme the price for Halladay was.
The future for the Phillies is not hit as hard as a trade with Toronto would have been, and the current team improves nearly as much as it would have with Halladay.
More to come as more information becomes available.
Plan B: Phillies Trade Farm for Lee
July 29, 2009 by Nick Poust
Filed under Fan News
The Philadelphia Phillies, desperate for a starting pitcher, traded four prospects for Cleveland Indians ace Cliff Lee.
The Philadelphia Phillies could not reach an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays regarding the Jays’ ace, Roy Halladay. Every proposition was shot down. The Blue Jays wanted the Phillies to include pitchers J.A. Happ, who has seven wins this season, and Kyle Drabek, their fifth ranked prospect. The Phillies didn’t want to include either, so “serious discussions” became a “stalemate” in a matter of hours.
Philadelphia moved on from Halladay and began focusing on their other targets. Cleveland Indians ace Cliff Lee was Plan B, and a mighty fine second choice, considering he won the American League Cy Young last season. The Phillies quickly worked on a deal with the Indians, but once again haggled over which prospects would be included.
The Indians asked about Happ and Drabek, but were told no. They weren’t upset. Their talks with the Phillies didn’t end. They wanted to trade Lee and knew that, even with Happ and Drabek out of the equation, they could piece together a deal full of talent. The two teams did. I assume their conversation went something like this:
Ruben Amaro Jr., Phillies General Manager: “Happ has been key for us and we can’t do without him. Drabek is part of our future and we think he could be our ace a year or two down the road.”
Mark Shaprio, Indians General Manager: “I understand, but are they the only young players you deem untouchable?”
Amaro: “Yes.”
Shapiro: “Alright then, we really like Carlos Carrasco, your top pitching prospect, and would like him to be the starting point.”
Amaro: (after pausing for a substantial amount of time) “Sure.”
Shapiro: “Good, now we want Jason Knapp, your 10th ranked prospect who has 111 strikeouts in 85 innings.”
Amaro: “Two of our top pitching prospects, huh?” [fantasizing Lee in a Phillies uniform]…”Well, if that’s what it will take.”
Shapiro: Fantastic! Let’s move on to the position players.”
Amaro: “Position players? I thought Carrasco and Knapp alone could get it done?”
Shapiro: “Who are you kidding? Okay, we want two players out of this group: shortstop and fourth-ranked prospect Jason Donald, catcher and third-ranked prospect Lou Marson, and Michael Taylor, power-hitting outfielder.”
Amaro: “No Dominic Brown or John Mayberry Jr., eh? Wow! Well then, I want to keep Taylor so he and Brown can play the outfield together for the next 12 years and have Mayberry available just in case he learns some plate discipline, so I’ll be willing to trade Marson and Donald.”
Shapiro: “Hazzaa! This is why I love working with you! So, let me get this straight, you are willing to part with four of your top-ten prospects for Cliff Lee, whose game may or may not translate to the National League?”
Amaro: “I’ll be willing to take that chance on Lee. He has tons of talent, a stifling repertoire of pitches, and I am confident that he will succeed and lead my team back to the promised land. Besides, who knows if Carrasco or Knapp will pan out? Marson and Donald could be career .240 hitters in the major leagues, unable to hit big-league pitching.”
Shapiro: “Well, when acquiring prospects, there is always that chance. But I think very highly of each player and believe that they could be part of a very bright future. Take Marson, for example. I have been trying to trade current catcher Victor Martinez for weeks now. I will find a taker, and when I do, I have his successor all ready. Any chance you would want to expand this deal…say, take Martinez off my hands?”
Amaro: “Though I need a catcher and badly, acquiring Martinez would mean including Brown or Taylor, right?”
Shapiro: “Right you are…are you interested?”
Amaro: “Not in the slightest! I am already giving up four of my best young players, which is already stupid enough.”
Shapiro: “Well, it was worth a try. So, the deal is Lee for Carrasco, Knapp, Donald, and Marson.”
Amaro: [pausing] “Man that’s a lot…um…um, yes. Would you by any chance include outfielder Ben Francisco? That would ease my pain just a bit.
Shapiro: “Done! let’s take a look at their medical records and then sign the paperwork [muttering under his breath]…before you come to your senses…What a steal!”
Phillies and Indians Agree to Trade Terms For Cliff Lee
July 29, 2009 by Jeremy Danziger
Filed under Fan News
The Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms this afternoon that will send Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to Philadelphia for prospects. The prospects include Jason Donald, Lou Marson, Carlos Carrasco, and Jason Knapp.
Cliff Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young winner, has had a good year so far, posting a 3.14 ERA, a 7-9 record, and 107 strikeouts. However, these numbers are disappointing after last year’s award-winning season.
One aspect that makes the trade odd is that Ben Francisco was included in the deal. The Phillies have a solid bench and enough utility players, which may cause speculation that Ruben Amaro Jr. is still going to try and acquire Roy Halladay.
This trade marks the first pitcher to go in the intense 72 hours before the trade deadline. The moves that are made may determine what happens when October comes around.
Now That Cliff Lee Has Joined the Phillies, Rest of NL Heads for the Hills
July 29, 2009 by Teddy Mitrosilis
Filed under Fan News
There won’t be any Roy Halladay parade in the streets of Philadelphia, as it turns out, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a World Series parade in the coming months.
The Phillies’ hopes for defending their crown are alive and well after the team agreed in principle to a trade that would send Cleveland left-hander Cliff Lee to the Phillies, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports.
The deal is still pending physicals, but it looks like a four-for-two swap, with the Phillies getting Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco in exchange for pitchers Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, infielder Jason Donald, and catcher Lou Marson.
With the deal, the Indians sell on a sinking season and get out from under Lee’s 2010 contract, while continuing to stockpile their farm system with high-end prospects. This gives the Indians tremendous value for the short and long term.
For the Phillies, this deal is obviously all about winning now, which is the right move. Lee isn’t Roy Halladay, but let’s face it, nobody is. Lee is still darn good, though, and is the power arm that the Phils desperately needed at the front of their rotation heading into October.
Some people may think Lee is only a one-year wonder with his remarkable ’08 Cy Young campaign, but he is actually pitching quite well this season despite his 7-9 record with the morbid Indians. Lee has a 3.14 ERA in 152 innings and 107 strikeouts to only 33 walks.
Francisco is a fourth outfielder in Philadelphia and only a side note in this blockbuster deal, but he has a little bit of pop and can be an adequate bench player.
I was in the camp that thought Phillies GM Ruben Amaro should have offered whatever it would take to the Blue Jays to bring in Halladay because their window to win championships is clearly now. But if we size up both prospective deals, this one may be a better all-around fit for the Phillies in terms of impact on their big league club now and on their farm system in the future.
In acquiring Lee, the Phillies did not have to give up prize pitcher Kyle Drabek, the guy that almost had to be included in any Halladay deal; they didn’t have to give up their top hitting prospect in outfielder Dominic Brown; and they didn’t have to ship off any parts of their big league club, namely rookie pitcher J.A. Happ, who has garnered interest by going 7-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 12 starts.
But more importantly than saving a couple pieces of their farm system, this trade now swings the balance of power in the National League back over to the Phillies, in my opinion. I thought the Dodgers were the strongest team for October due to their depth in pitching relative to the Phillies’ thin batch of arms.
But now that Lee is in Philly to take some pressure off of Cole Hamels, all bets are off.
No, Hamels hasn’t pitched like the Hamels of ’08, but he has been pitching in uncharted territory for most of the season. He experienced the heaviest workload of his career last season as the Phillies won it all, and he has also had the pressures of upholding a rotation this season that hasn’t had much from Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer.
Joe Blanton has been the only other regular guy to take the ball, and that simply isn’t enough.
But now that Happ has surfaced and is thriving in the big leagues, the Phillies have three arms that they would be comfortable rolling out come October. You may notice that the three aforementioned starting pitchers are all left-handed, but I wouldn’t be too concerned about that because Hamels and Lee aren’t your typical southpaws.
It’s great to match up well against your opponent, but I’ve always stuck to the philosophy that superior talent wins out—and that’s exactly what the Phillies are now equipped with.
They are going to face a strong Dodgers team in the postseason, in all likelihood, but the Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, and Hiroki Kuroda/Randy Wolf trio doesn’t seem much better than what the Phillies have to offer. In fact, it’s not anymore with the addition of Lee.
Kershaw has taken huge strides towards being considered one of the top starters in all of baseball, and he has been the true rock of a Dodgers pitching staff that hasn’t gotten by so easily now that we are in the thick of summer. Billingsley has had more than his share of struggles recently, and of course there are still plenty of doubts about whether or not he can step up to answer the bell and spotlight of October.
I don’t have those same doubts about Billingsley because I think his one poor showing last fall isn’t enough to completely judge the mental fortitude of a 24-year-old kid, but hey, the ball is now in the Dodgers’ dugout in terms of improving their roster.
They are going to ride easily to a National League West crown, but that is no longer enough for the fans in Los Angeles. They want to see a winner, something that hasn’t graced Chavez Ravine since ’88, and there will be a much tougher road ahead once they can’t feast on the likes of the Diamondbacks and Padres.
Maybe the Dodgers now make a play for Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn. Are they in the Halladay sweepstakes or out? Tough to tell, but I would say out as long as Kershaw or Billingsley is being asked for.
Whatever it is, there will be more moves made, because the Phillies have now knocked over that first big domino on their way to playoff power, and they have made it clear that they want a second consecutive crack at a World Series title.
Halladay won’t be throwing their first pitch of October, but Lee will, and that’s not a bad alternative at all.
You can reach Teddy Mitrosilis at tm4000@yahoo.com.
NEWS: Phillies Acquire Cliff Lee
July 29, 2009 by TAB BAMFORD
Filed under Fan News
Various media outlets are reporting that the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed in principle to a trade that would bring reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Cliff to the defending World Champions.
Along with outfielder Ben Francisco, Lee has apparently been acquired in what may prove to be a great stroke of gamesmanship. The Phillies are reportedly not being asked to part ways with rookie JA Happ or any of the other three top prospects, including Kyle Drabek, that the Toronto Blue Jays were reportedly requiring in a deal for Roy Halladay.
What makes this move particularly intriguing is that Lee, like current Phillies’ ace Cole Hamels, is left-handed. This move adds significant depth to the rotation of a Phillies team that’s running away with the National League East, but the trade for right-handed Halladay would have complemented Hamels more.
The trade is still reportedly pending physicals, and the names of the prospects the Phillies are sending to Cleveland have not yet been released.