Phillies acquire Blanton
The Phillies got help for their starting rotation, acquiring righthander Joe Blanton from Oakland.
Phillies acquire Blanton
Josh Barnett
The Phillies got help for their starting rotation, acquiring righthander Joe Blanton from Oakland for three minor leaguers -- infielder Adrian Cardenas, lefthander Josh Outman and outfielder Matt Spencer. Cardenas was the No. 2 prospect in the Phillies' system, according to Baseball America, and Outman was ranked No. 4.
Blanton, 27, once considered one of the A’s top young prospects, but has had a disappointing season thus far. He is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA and has lost six of his last eight starts. He has a 3.87 ERA in 17 of his 20 starts and is tied for sixth in the American League in innings (127), having gone at least six innings in 16 starts. Blanton has the seventh-lowest run support average in the AL.
In his four-year career, Blanton is 47-46 with a 4.25 ERA.
One of his victories this season came against the Phillies on June 24. Blanton’s only mistake in seven innings was a Pat Burrell home run in the A’s 5-2 victory.
"It's one of those deals where it's very bittersweet," Blanton told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'm going to a very good team with a very good lineup. They're in the division hunt and they're out to win a championship, and that's what any player wants. But I've always been with the A's, and I have great relationships there. It's one of those double-sided coins."
Like Brett Myers did for the Phillies, Blanton was Oakland’s Opening Day starter. He gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings in a loss to Boston in Japan.
“We’ve been attempting to upgrade our rotation and we feel like we’ve done that,” Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said in a statement. “We think Joe is a very strong, competitive pitcher that has the mental makeup to pitch productively in a pennant race. He pitches a lot of innings and takes some burden off the bullpen.”
Outman, 23, was 5-4 with one save and a 3.20 ERA in 33 games (5 starts) for Double A Reading.
Cardenas, 20, was hitting .309 in 67 games for Single A Clearwater.
Spencer, 22, was hitting .249 with six home runs and 41 RBI in 84 games for Clearwater.
Looks like Brett Myers has some serious competition now for goofiest facial hair.— Leron- Charlie just got more of what he already has.
- At least Victorino or Carrasco weren't involved. Would have like Burnett, but I think with some run support it could work.— Philly Fan in Kuwait
Comment removed.- good deal. Need innings. Add a decent(hopefully) Bret Myers and this rotation looks solid. Only one prospect of consequence given uo for a 200+ innings a year pitcher. I like it A lot!— sfw
- Blanton is not going to stop the Mets. Their lefties will feast on him. And Citizens will do him no favors. Look for his ERA to go UP, not down. We're doomed!— thefanatic
- What would Billy Beane do with financial backing? Gillick won years ago in a totally different setting. Trade Golson or Donald. Don't trade a talented lefty. Outman should have been starting this year. Then another option would have been available at this time. Nothing against Blanton. I prefer using the few prospects to make the Phillies better and not someone else.— wmontanez27
- Thefanatic is correct! blanton will be booed. However, the organization should be.— wmontanez27
this is a good trade because we didn't give up a major prospect. He's not an ace, but he's better than Eaton... not much more we can do except give up top prospects from an already depleted farm system for someone like CC... so I'm all for this deal. Blanton is 27, makes only $3.7 million, and I read somewhere that he's signed until 2010. This is not a world series winning move, but better than standing put— jamarder- This deal is pretty good, one you get a good starting pitcher till 2010 so it's not a one year rental. You get a solid number 2 pitcher behind Cole Hamels, and the numbers don't really show his true pitching ability. We did give up Josh Outman, but the second baseman would have never been called up since Chase Utley there and the other outfielder was even that good, so this deal is a good one.— trinitystar21
- i total agree with northphillyboy, blanton was the A's ace last year, and this year he just hasnt got run support.— trinitystar21
- I don't hate the deal... I don't love the deal. I kind of had the same feelings last year with Lohse. He didn't blow me away either. But anyone is better than Adam Eaton. I might be better than Eaton and I never pitched a day in my life.— phillyrealist
- Okay, this is Eaton's replacement. Don't stop now. Let's get another arm to replace the uninspiring Myers. Put both Myers and Eaton in the bullpen. I know that's a scary proposition, what with their propensity to give up early runs, but it's our only choice. Acquiring the services of another guy, like the O's Guthrie or someone like him, would be of great benefit to the staff.— jp
- This deal is awful. We trade 2 of the strongest prospects, from an already weak farm system, for a fat boy bottom of the rotation guy, at best. I would rather watch Happ take his lumps and hope that Myers can be half decent when he returns. Buy out that turd Eaton, and we're all set. It's all moot now. Thanks alot Gillick....one helluva a swan song your senile old muppett.— ematusko
- Comment removed.
