One final hurdle for Lee deal
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One final hurdle for Lee deal
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
According to several baseball sources, the only hurdle standing in the way of a blockbuster trade that will bring reigning American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee to Philadelphia is a thorough review of medical records.
The trade will bring Lee, 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA, and right-handed hitter Ben Francisco to Philadelphia in exchange for heralded pitching prospect Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald, catcher Lou Marson, and former top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco.
While the medical review is not expected to stand in the way of the deal, a source labelled it an "important part" of the process, given recent injuries to Donald and Knapp. As of early this afternoon, Knapp was still at a Lakewood Blue Claws team hotel in Greenville, S.C., while Donald, Marson and Carrasco were at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Carrasco was scratched from his start today. Donald and Marson did not play. Donald was not scheduled to play after returning last night following knee surgery. Marson did not catch, with an early day game after a night game.
Knapp, a 19-year-old righthander who throws in the mid-to-upper 90's, has been on the disabled list with shoulder fatigue since early July. He has been long-tossing, but has not pitched off the mound since July 11.
Word of the trade has already trickled down to Anaheim, where sources said Cleveland teammates were congratulating Lee on the deal. Lee, however, told reporters that he had no knowledge of the trade.
A Phillies source said no announcement was imminent. An Indians spokesman declined to confirm the trade.
Meanwhile, Roy Halladay took the mound in Seattle for Toronto against the Mariners.
Jays manager Cito Gaston was asked about the impending Lee trade.
“Is it official now? So what is Cleveland doing there?" he said. "I know they’re (unloading) but what are they doing?”
Gaston was then asked if it made him feel any better that one of Halladay's suitor was presumably off the board.
“Well, yeah. It tells me [Philadelphia] is not going to take him? Who knows? They might come back and get him, too," he said. "That would be a pretty good staff over there, wouldn’t it? Because from what I understand, they didn’t give up any of their [top] prospects, not the ones we [reportedly] wanted."
Then he started to laugh: "Hey, it’s still out there maybe. It’s better to have two than one, isn’t it? We’ll see what happens. Today’s the 29th. We’ve still got two days. So it’s still alive.”
More to come. . .
this ought to spell the end for Mr Moyer as a player in Philadelphia. Thank you so much for your great efforts the last couple of years. A class act - hopefully the Phils keep him on in some sort of coaching capacity. No room for him in the rotation with Hamels, Lee, Happ, Blanton and Pedro. What Moyer has done for us at his age is amazing, and he should be thanked and commended. But 4 lefties in your starting rotation just isn't going to work, and looking at the numbers he'll be the odd man out.— lefty1117
Comment removed.- No Fredhead, Toronto would NOT take Blanton in a trade for Halladay. I guess most people don't know how these trades work. Good Lord!— Billy The Kid
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- maddy44 I absolutely agree with you. Phillies let a 6 foot tall power pitching prospect with tommy john surgery stand in the way of acquiring the best pitcher in baseball. Look what Halladay has done in the AL East in his career.— psu05
- Posted by Ed3 02:45 PM, 07/29/2009 Good deal for Phils - next Lopez & Mayberry for Sherill! Rightttttt. And in a related note. The Sixers are going to trade Willie Green and Lou Williams for LeBron James— Captain
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- Don't worry about all the lefties. When the Phils come home I'll be there to Nancy Kerrigan Moyer and that will take care of that.— Captain
- I'd take Jake Peavy in a heartbeat. He's younger than Halladay, he eats innings, he WILL get healthy, and right now he'd come cheap. I'd give the Padres Mayberry, Kendrick, and Bastardo for Peavy right now, and I bet the Pads would do the deal.— freddhead
- Ruben is NOT done yet. Happ and Drabek for Halladay on Friday... book it.— BFlint
- sounds like we also gave up on Knapp-some think he has more potential than Drabek. I have a feeling more moves are coming— djmarco
- Wow, Cliff Lee is still the reigning AL Cy Young winner and he's being dubbed a #1, not an Ace?! I don't get the terminology, but he did just win 22 games last year, and that makes me think Ace. Plus he will get much better run support from our bats.— PhillySportsPhan007
- Posted by Maddy44 03:44 PM, 07/29/2009 look again folks....how in the world is a 10 game winner the odd man out?? The 10 game winner is the odd man out b/c he gets over 8 runs a game in support and only has given you 7 out of 20 quality starts(which is the worst in MLB) and his numbers are similar to Eatons last year. It's pretty simple as to why he gets wins and the baseball people know it. He pitches agains Lincecum this week. Any faith thats not a 7-2 final for the Giants? If you do, you haven't been paying attention to 65 % of his starts— Captain
- Who's the Rookie of the Year: J.A. Happ or Ruben Amaro Jr.?— andrewfrombrooklyn
