Report: D-backs targeting Lee
Phillies trade rumors continued overnight. In the latest, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks could be targeting the Phillies' Cliff Lee in their quest to acquire a top-flight starting pitcher.
Report: D-backs targeting Lee
Daily News staff
The Diamondbacks are reportedly in the mix to acquire Phillies starter Cliff Lee. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Phillies trade rumors continued overnight. In the latest, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks could be targeting the Phillies' Cliff Lee in their quest to acquire a top-flight starting pitcher.
Rosenthal notes that the Diamondbacks have the assets, most notably star rightfielder Justin Upton, that it would likely take to convince the Phillies to part with Lee.
The Phillies need outfield help, especially with other trade rumors swirling around Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino.
Upton, 24, is batting .270 with eight home runs and 43 RBI. He was Arizona's first-round pick in 2005.
Other reports indicated that the Phillies and Orioles were talking about trading Joe Blanton yesterday. The hangup, according to reports, is that the Phillies want Baltimore infield prospect Jon Schoop. Schoop is the Orioles' third-ranked prospect, according to Baseball America.
Schoop is currently playing Double A ball in the Baltimore system.
The trading deadline is today at 4 p.m.
Comments (61)
trade Cliff? are you serious? the best , most watchable athlete on the team, he hits, fields, pitches , runs the bases reminds me of Robbie. Never complains about the feeble hitting, like Robbie. Not since Pete have I enjoyed a Phillie as much. Came to L.A., pitched a shutout and hit a homer and made a great fielding play. What else do you want for your money? Don't make the same dumb mistake again.— toubibcal- trade howard and hallday..not lee— hardball
- There are three things a baseball team needs to win a pennant. They are Pitching, Pitching and Pitching. Why would anyone want to trade Cliff Lee?— Hoskel
- Hey -- can we maybe archive old articles like this? Saw the nine month-old headline and had a mini-heart attack.— Edward Creed
- There is no player in Arizona worth Cliff Lee. Insofar the Kenny Rosenthal rumors, there have been millions over the years, some FEW of which have actually happened! That's what little Kenny Rosenthal does--float rumors in hopes one might happen. What a pathetic "reporter" he is.— BEMiller
- Typical mess on this website. Horribly outdated articles appear from nowhere, and links to other articles just lead to "Oops" missing article. And why is the the only website that crashes Safari on my Mac laptop. The only one. Almost every time.— HokieMon
- This is old news, but still: NO.— Timmy
- This story is not concerned with news, but with little Kenny Rosenthal needing to have something to blither on about! Actually, at this point, I kind of like the way the outfield is beginning to look. Getting rid of Laynce Nix would be a further addition by subtraction. Hunter Pence was so unreliable as to be nearly worthless, and though Shane Victorino has some really good years here, there is absolutely no reason in the world to bring him back. Darin Ruf needs some experience in the outfield, and AAA is the place to get experience. If he's doing well he may be back before people notice he's been gone. — BEMiller
- Get this article down. It's Feb. 23rd, 2013. Not July 31st 2012— SIPP
- Sooooooo. The phillies might trade Blanton and Pence and Shane . I'll bet that they make a deal with Texas for Mike Young. I'll bet the house on that one. Keep us posted for all the latest news .
P.s. Has Jim Forgosi been fired yet ????— jeromie - how old is this post.????????— machuzick
- Philly must trade this failure in a heart beat if given the chance. Even for a $1 to get rid of the way over paid contract. He's done, MLB is not a slow pitch league!— rico777
- if amaro trades lee again, i will never go to another phillis game ever or before hell freezes over, he has ruined the team ever since he took over, traded away all our bright young talent and gets old farts back in return FIRE WADE & AMARO !— eddiot
- Well the rumors are AZ is working on something big. I would love to see Upton here if he's not a head case, but even if he is if we move Lee for Upton I don't see why we wouldn't be able to turn around and trade Upton so if that is in the works lets make it happen!— lazyboy
- BJ Upton????? Isn't he another Mayberry???????— martyhenry
- Justin Upton. BJ plays for the Rays. Justin is 24, two time all-star, 4th in MVP voting last year. A little better than Mayberry. I'm not sold on BJ but I'd love to have Justin. — s
- Sorry, just finished laughing at the idea that the D-backs would even consider moving Upton as part of a deal for Lee. I suppose if the Phils paid 75% of what is remaining on Lee's contract...nah. That is a pipe dream.— lazyboy
- If you've been following the game, there's been talk of Arizona moving Upton for a while. Upton is having some sort of issue in Arizona (some say the GM doesn't like him) and they want to move him. Not new news.
We need a 3B out of one of these deals in my opinion.— s - only a complete imbecile discards a top talent under contract for 3 1/2 more years when he's at his lowest value -- buy high sell low— warbiscuit
- Agree, philsfan, you don't need 3 aces. the Orioles with 4-20 game winners in the 60s rings any bells? The Phillies last year? The Cards won with Carpenter and a lot of #4 last year. The Phillies with Hamels, a borderline #2 and a bunch of back of the rotation starters.— EL Zorro
- I meant. Lee wasn't the same pitcher when Texas acquired him from Seattle (4-6, 3.98 ERA and lost two games in the WS). That's almost the same ERA he has this year 3.95. He also has back issues the last few season, including this year.— EL Zorro
- Looks like Vic to Dogders for Lindblom is about to happen. He is a good young reliever and cheap, definitely fills a hole. As for this Lee deal keep in mind $ is a big part of it. If the Phils can get Upton and free up some payroll then that allows them to be that much more aggressive in getting a stud CF like bourne or melky. My theory is this team lost way too much offense too quick and while its great to have 3 aces it doesnt usually compensate for an aging offense. I would love a lineup of Bourne, Jroll,Upton, Howard, Utley, Chooch, Headley, D Brown. That is all of a sudden a pretty good lineup. Fill the gap in the rotation with a nice B level free agent pitcher. Between Hamels, Doc (a healthy one in 2013), Worley, Free Agent, and Cloyd/KK this team would be back to competing. Thoughts?— philsfan in the atx
- Ok, so Rosenthal and Heyman are making some stuff up. They are not professional, I guess like some of you guys. LOL.— EL Zorro
- I thought Upton in and Pence out might be a good move to save money in the OF, but then I looked up Upton's contract. $9.75 million in 2013, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015. Isn't the problem with Pence that $14 million is too much money for his skillset?— mets_collapse_is_funny_to_me
- Key to Lee trade is how many contract $$ receiving team will assume.
If D-backS take 2/3 and promise not to include Mike Zagurski as a throw in, I'll go with Upton/Lee deal PROVIDED, 'ZONA takes Wheels and TMac. By the way, anyone else notice what a great color man Mitch is ??— NewMick314 - You guys are way too much in love with Lee. He has a lot of ups and downs in his career. Yes, sometimes he looks like the best pitcher in baseball when things go his way and he looks smooth out there making a good play, getting a key hit, but he also has his moments when he looks confused for a long period of times like this season, that you could say is a continuation of his start against the Cards in the playoffs. The year before he wasn't the same pitcher when they acquired him from Seattle and lost two games in the WS. He'll be 34 in August and is making a ton of money. It's time to move him if teams are asking for him.— EL Zorro
- sonnybuoy01 - that is such a ridiculous excuse for RAJ. at the end of the day RAJ is responsible for his body of work and RAJ is the only one responsible for his work, which includes what he does and doesn't learn. smart GM's can succeed under all conditions and limitations. I am rooting for RAJ to have his best GM'ing day ever (previous best day was July 31, 2009).— mets_collapse_is_funny_to_me
- Murph, you are a beat writer for the Phillies. You follow the team on a daily basis. Supposedly.
"In the latest, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports?"
Why not, in the latest David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News reports?— PhightinPhil - Yeah Dasher, I meant, started the season in Clearwater and is now plsying at Reading. BTW, reliever Josh Lindblom and another player are coming to the Phillies in the Victorino deal.— EL Zorro
- Upton is not the type of player we should for,....he's the type of player you sign for without compensation,...Lee to Texas or nothing— SyddBarrett
- I can no longer be a Phillies fan if we add an Upton, much less 2. That would be like adding 2 more Jimmy Rollins. We don't need more malcontents. There is a reason their teams want to get rid of them every year!!— timphillies20
- sounds nice and all, but I guess everyone forgets Lee has a no-trade clause. There's like a 0.5% chance Arizona is one of the 8 preferred destinations not blocked
- Lee is an ace a top-end one or two and should not go for anything less than a thirdbaseman and shortstop,...in the proper package— SyddBarrett
Comment removed.- Has anybody considered who was given the job to mentor RAJ to be GM? It was Pat Gillick. So maybe, if RAJ isn't living up to your expections, could it be that Pat Gillick didn't do a good job mentoring RAJ?— sonnybuoy01
- @Zorro: Asche is playing at AA Reading.— dasher
- Makes sense on the Lee move. The word around Bright House last night was that Ruben has Ed Wade with Clearwater bird dogging the three left-handed aces of the Threshers. The most advanced of them lefty Adam Morgan, a 22 year old Lee clone, had a perfect game for 7.1 innings in his last start and has struck out 22 with no walks in his last two starts. As Pat Gillick once said you have to develope your own home grown top of the rotation starters. Morgan would be ideal to take over for Lee in the rotation at some point.— Dull
- Zorro-It's like the old Clairol commercial and how these things multiply. Each writer tells two friends and they tell two friends and so on and so on. Before you know it, it is being reported everywhere as the hot rumor. Heyman and Rosenthal probably text each other these so-called truths so the other can validate the rumor. If you throw enough out there, eventually you will be the one who broke the story and also eventually the Phillies writers will pick it up a day or so after it was first reported.— NMPartners
- Lee even up for Upton? You must be delusional!! The DBacks would really have to sweeten the deal. By the way, no one really knows the 8 teams Lee has designated as those to whom he would agree to be traded. This is wild speculation.— 1republican
- Clemens, it looks the reliever will be coming in a Victorino trade.— EL Zorro
- Dave Clemens, they report what they hear from sources. There was a deal in place in principle. Dempster as a 10-5 man, voided it. He wants to go to LA. The same way Carlos Lee voided the deal to the Dodgers, a huge mistake. He went to the Marlins instead. As for 3B, I agree. But if they can get Upton and sign Bourne or Cabrera, or even his borther BJ, they can wait for Cody Asche to develp. He was in Clearwater to start the season and is now playing at Clearwater.— EL Zorro
- Rosenthal is also reporting that Arizona is one of the teams Lee can Veto a trade to.— Sidewinder7
- Chicago Fan, here's what he was thinking: This rotation will be awesome. Turns out, Lee and Halladay had bad years at the same time and Howard/Utley got old before he thought they would. Better to cut bait now before we spend another year drifting around the lagoon.— Scorekeeper
- Sounds like a good trade. Upton is a 24 yr All-star having a rough year. And he fills a need.— NYC - Philly
- this would be a great trade. trade lee for upton and aother prospect, then trade pence for a bunch of prospects, because upton can replace him in right. also would like if they sign BJ, good points ESF. they get younger and probably more talented, which is what they need— HDemetriou
- Zorro: I beg to differ about the truth of rumors peddled by "experts" Rosenthal and Heyman. Just last week, they had Ryan Dempster definitely going to the Braves. Have you noticed he didn't go? I don't want the Phillies to trade Lee, but if they feel they have to, they've got to get a top-flight third baseman or OF, and a decent right-handed reliever.— Dave Clemens
- Upton? Not enough of a payback for Lee. Makes no sense other than money -- which begs the question of what was Rueben thinking when he signed Lee in the first place. He knew Hamels would cost good money to resign. I dont get this at all.— Chicago_Phils_Fan
- Russ, Heyman from CBSSports.com also has the report. When you have two of the tops writers in the country mentioning it, if has to have some true to it. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean is going to happen. They report what they hear as talks in negotiations via twitter or flash news.— EL Zorro
- Continuing reports that "the Phillies want too much" for their players... We'll see how it plays out around 3:00 - 3:30 PM today. Hang in there Rueben and get what you want for these guys.— topwonk
- Another BS rumor put out by Ken Rosenthal. Mark it down: THEY WILL NOT BE TRADING LEE!!— Russ
- ok ok i should check my spelling before i send off— wildgreenman
- can we have pat gillick gm for jusy 1 day? i will feel a loy better
— wildgreenman - stay put, only inpending free agents go— wildgreenman
- This is good. Either we get a young OF in Upton or put pressure in the Rangers to give us the farm for Lee.— EL Zorro
- So is this the indictment of Ruben Amaro Jr.? Everyone wants one of our guys, but we have to eat salary and we can't have a top 3 prospect, an answer at 3rd base, or even a fourth bullpen arm. In other words, everyone sees what a train wreck the Phillies have become and they will pick from the rubble only if it costs them nothing.— TongueWagger
- Do this deal if its available. Upton is having a down season this year but is a young budding star. His salaray is manageable for 3 years and would be comparable to what a good FA outfielder gets paid anyhow.— philsfan in the atx
- What about their assets that are not under club control for 2013? Blanton, Victorino & Pierre are all pending free agents and have to be traded for something. Polanco has a club option that the Phils are not going to pick up and if they can send him to a contender for something (anything) then they will have pulled off a small victory. All 4 players have to go today.— mets_collapse_is_funny_to_me
- I just hope that the team stay put and keep their assets for next year.Many players are just having a bad year which should be expected because they are human after all.— Andrew Grier
- A Lee to Arizona move would result in the Phils landing two Uptons. Justin in the trade and BJ in FA. Brown in LF and that is a nice, young OF in which to build upon. I know its most likely a pipe dream, but this should be a very fun 7 and a half hours.— ESFjellin
- EST--If its a pipe dream it's a lead pipe dream and brain damage and death follow lead piping. Both Uptons don't make one actually good player!
The trade rumors and the absolute abundance of Blarney Stone is one of the least desirable aspects of the Spring. Quite agree with cellar, in that pursuing an Upton means getting rid of Hunter Pence did no good at all.— BEMiller - Might as well keep Pence. BJ Upton isn't going to give you any more production than Pence, probably less. — nellar
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