Report: D-backs targeting Lee
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Report: D-backs targeting Lee
Daily News staff
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.
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- 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
- Sounds like a good trade. Upton is a 24 yr All-star having a rough year. And he fills a need.— NYC - Philly
- 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
- Rosenthal is also reporting that Arizona is one of the teams Lee can Veto a trade to.— Sidewinder7
- 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
- Clemens, it looks the reliever will be coming in a Victorino trade.— EL Zorro
- 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
- 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
- @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
- 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
Comment removed.- 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
- 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
