The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Phillies have agreed to trade four prospects -- Lou Marson, Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp -- to the Cleveland Indians for reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco. The move signals the Phillies will not make the long-rumored trade for Toronto Blue Jays' ace Roy Halladay.
Toronto wanted pitcher J.A. Happ and top prospects Kyle Drabek and Dominic Brown. The Phils balked at giving up both Happ, a potential rookie of the year candidate, and Drabek, the best pitching prospect in the Phils' organization in at least a decade.
Lee, 30, is not exactly chopped liver. Lee won the 2008 American League Cy Young Award (22-3 wins with a 2.54 ERA), but has struggled this year, going 7-9 with a 3.14 earned run average.
Francisco, 28, fills the Phillies need for a right-handed hitting outfielder. He's hitting .250 and has some pop in his bat, knocking 10 home runs this season for the Indians.
Lee's addition gives the Phils four lefties in their starting rotation with Joe Blanton as the only right-hander. That could change if Pedro Martinez, another former Cy Young Award winner, makes the rotation, but that would mean Jamie Moyer would lose his spot in the rotation. Moyer leads the team with 10 wins.
Maybe the Phils are not done dealing?
For more on the blockbuster trade, check out this article by Ryan Lawrence in The Pottstown Mercury.
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