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Friday, August 29, 2008
Stairs will be in Phils uniform tomorrow

Matt Stairs will fly to Philadelphia tonight and be in uniform when the Phillies face the Cubs Saturday afternoon, according to Stairs' agent.

Earlier today the Phillies agreed to a deal with the Blue Jays to acquire the veteran lefthander, who is hitting .250 with 11 home runs this season.

The original thought was that Stairs would join the team Sunday or Monday. But Stairs could play as soon as tomorrow after joining the Phillies in Chicago.

"Matt is definitely on the Phillies," Bob Garber, Stairs' agent, said in a text message.

Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said he had nothing to report before today's game at Wrigley Field -- "I can't comment on that," Gillick said when asked about Stairs -- but the Phillies are expected to announce the deal shortly.

Stairs is currently in Tampa where the Blue Jays are playing the Rays.

FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal first reported the deal late last night in the wake of the Phillies' crushing loss to the Cubs.

Stairs, 40, is a 16-year veteran who has made his mark as a DH/OF/1B type with good power. He was hitting .250 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI this season for the Blue Jays. He carries career averages of .266 and 25 home runs per 162 games played.

Stairs can fill in in rightfield when needed, but the Phillies view him primarily as a much-needed addition to their bench.

The club looked at veteran Mike Lamb, who was designated for assignment by the Twins, but decided Stairs was a better fit.

The move likely spells the end of the Fabio Castro era. The lefty reliever was called up yesterday from Triple A to replace Drew Carpenter, who was called up from Double A to replace Andy Tracy when the Phillies needed an extra arm following a 13-inning win over the Mets on Tuesday.

The Phillies have been looking for a lefthanded bat for some time. Currently, Greg Dobbs is the only option off the bench.

The deal is for a minor league player to be named later.

Posted by David Murphy @ 10:58 AM  Permalink | 53 comments
Comments   
Posted 10:55 AM, 08/29/2008
lgroniko
Great. Old. Slow. No glove. Sounds like another consolation prize, this time for the failure to acquire a guy like Kotsay. Think this guy will hit .333 after showing up, as Kotsay has with Boston? Good grief.
Posted 11:02 AM, 08/29/2008
Bake McBride
Stairs is REALLY slow, but he is a professional hitter. He'll be with the team until Whatsisname gets off the DL.
Posted 11:09 AM, 08/29/2008
RollinsWasRight
So, we need CC Sabathia or Rich Harden, we get Joe Blanton. We need Brian Fuentes, we get Scott Eyre. We need Mark Kotsay, we get Matt Stairs (aka Jeremy Giambi). Is it any wonder that this team's mantra the last 7 years has been "Close, but no cigar"?
Posted 11:16 AM, 08/29/2008
phillyinnyc
bargain bin bullcrap - thanks cheapo ownership!
Posted 11:23 AM, 08/29/2008
GHOSTPHAYCE
Stairs looks like a cross between a truck driver and a civil war soilder. Too bad this is not 1993.
Posted 11:36 AM, 08/29/2008
Burrman
This deal has shaken up the Mets so much that they're trying to resign Daryl Strawberry.
Posted 11:38 AM, 08/29/2008
Shabba Rommel
Phils ownership is pathetic. Could have had Nady and his +.300 avg...instead we get this. Lemming Phils fans still flock to the stadium though...lame fans, lame.
Posted 11:41 AM, 08/29/2008
bdc333
What...Randall Simon wasn't available???
Posted 11:43 AM, 08/29/2008
bdc333
At least Bull's BBQ sales will go up. They should set-up a bench next to it so he doesn't have to walk far to "fill up".
Comment removed.
Posted 11:58 AM, 08/29/2008
Trot
Can not believe it MATT STAIRS!!!!!! This guy was playing back when mullets were cool. Whats wrong Kotsay asking too much or you just don't want to WIN>
Posted 12:04 PM, 08/29/2008
cran83
Hey come on guys. Don't be frontrunners. You're gonna hurt his feelings.
Posted 12:10 PM, 08/29/2008
CyHamels
SEASON = SAVED
Comment removed.
Posted 12:15 PM, 08/29/2008
GANick
Wonderful. Does this stop Madson from blowing games and stupid decisions by Manual to take Hamels out of a game they desperately needed to win? This will really scare the bejesus out of the Mets.
53 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times.

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