Done Deal but for Physicals: Cliff Lee to Phillies for 4 Minor Leaguers
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The Phillies shifted gears away from Toronto’s Roy Halladay because the asking price, J.A. Happ and top minor league prospect Kyle Drabek, was too high.
Instead, sources cited in a number of places online report that the Phils traded with the Cleveland Indians acquiring 31 year old reigning AL Cy Young Award winner lefthander Cliff Lee and righthanded hitting outfielder Ben Francisco in exchange for Triple A minor league prospects; pitcher Carlos Carrasco, infielder Jason Donald, catcher Lou Marson and Single-A pitcher Jason Knapp. Sources say that, pending results of physicals, this is a done-deal.
So the Phillies not only get key piece for their pitching rotation and up their World Series chances dramatically, they also get a big bench insurance policy in Francisco who has shown power and an ability to get on base, leaving the Phils free to send outfielder John Mayberry Jr., with his .189 BA in 35 games, back to Triple-A for more seasoning. Francisco provides insurance should leftfielder Raul Ibanez go down again with injury and also adds additional potency to a bench where, unil now, only outfielder Matt Stairs and utilityman Greg Dobbs get it done in the clutch.
AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi reports on the Lee deal for Yahoo sports:
The deal is pending medical reviews. Those reviews could take a while because three of the players the Indians are getting from Philadelphia have dealt with recent injuries.
Lee turns 31 next month and his contract includes an $8 million club option for next season.
The left-hander is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts this season after going 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA last year.
Nothing else has been reported yet as to the money side of the deal.
Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr adds these comments on the deal:
Francisco is the right-handed bat that the Phillies have been looking for. Francisco is batting .250 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs…
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.
The deal gives the Phillies a potent, yet lefty-heavy starting rotation with optons down the stretch with lefthanders Cole Hamels, Lee, Happ, Jamie Moyer along with righthanders Joe Blanton and Pedro Martinez — when he becomes operational on the roster.
Now the Phils need to pick up a piece or 2 of bullpen protection to back up closer Brad Lidge. Hopefully, the quicker-than-expected rehabbing Brett Myers could help out there.
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