On Sunday, July 30, one day before the July 31 major league trading deadline, the Phils beat the deadline by pulling the trigger on 2 deals.  They traded 2 time all star rightfielder Bobby Abreu (8 HRs, 65 RBIs, .277 BA) and starting pitcher Cory Lidle (8-7) to the NY Yankees for a Yanks relief pitcher and 3 minor leaguers.

On Friday, the Phils traded 3rd baseman David Bell (6 HRs, 34 RBIs, .275 BA) to the Milwaukee Brewers straight up for minor league reliever Wilfrido Laureano.

Of both deals consummated so far, the Bell for Laureano trade looks the most positive for the Phillies, although they now need a steady glove at the hot corner.  I’m a firm believer that you’ve gotta have a Schmidt or Rolen calibre glove at 3rd, which or the most part, Bell approached (and a similar potential approaching Schmidt or Rolen with the stick would really help too).  I still vividly recall Schmitty’s bare-handed grabs of grounders and fluid motion in nailing his man at 1st and those great baseline dives to retrieve low line drives or hard grounders down the line to rob the opponents of what always seemed to have extra bases marked all over them.  What the Phils have left at 3rd base — Abraham Nunez, and ,in a pinch, Chris Coste is very, very shakey at best.

But Wilfrido Laureano’s reliever stats, as related by Brian of Phillies Nation, seem impressive.  But is he closer material?  I wouldn’t can Tom Gordon too fast, he’s had a standout year thus far aside from some homerun problems a week or so ago.

As for the 4 former Yanks picked up for Abreu and Lidle, I fear the GM Pat Gillick is far out of his league dealing with George Steinbrenner.  These guys are really questionable.  Further, there seems to be confusion not just with Brian, but on the yahoo major league baseball site as to whether Jesus Sanchez is a pitcher or catcher.

While the Phils dropped some hefty paychecks, was this deal really fiscally worth it in the short and long haul?   Or does Schilling’s rap on club management still hold, that they are still not really committed to winning?

After the trading deadline, this blog will feature an all-time best and worst July trading deadline deals.

Hat tip to Brian of PhilliesNation.

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 31st, 2006 at 10:27 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary, Phillies Deals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.