Michael Schwimer traded to Blue Jays
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Michael Schwimer traded to Blue Jays
Matt Gelb
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Scott Proefrock walked through the Phillies clubhouse during the eighth inning of Saturday's Grapefruit League game with papers in his hand. The assistant general manager instructed a clubhouse attendant to find pitcher Michael Schwimer.
Schwimer was in the Phillies bullpen, exactly where one is supposed to be when scheduled to pitch. Except Schwimer was no longer a Phillie. He had been traded during the game to Toronto for Art Charles, a minor-league first baseman.
"Very surprised," Schwimer said.
This, in reality, was a move months in the making. Schwimer had angered the organization twice last season; first, by announcing roster moves on Twitter and, second, by disputing the team's decision to send him to triple A in August.
Both Schwimer and Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said those incidents had nothing to do with Saturday's trade. Nonetheless, the Phillies dealt a 27-year-old arm with big-league experience for a 22-year-old first baseman who has never played above single A.
"It's an arm that should pitch in the big leagues," pitching coach Rich Dubee said of Schwimer. "He's got plenty of talent to pitch in the big leagues."
Schwimer said the players' union has not closed an inquiry into whether he was optioned to the minors while injured. That is against Major League Baseball's rules. The Phillies said Schwimer was healthy. The pitcher claimed a biceps ailment.
He can file a grievance with the union to seek lost service time and back pay up to approximately $75,000.
"It's still definitely an open issue," Schwimer said.
The Phillies had 13 relievers on their 40-man roster, and Amaro noted there would be a roster crunch to come before opening day. In 2012, Schwimer pitched more innings (34 1/3) than any Phillies reliever not named Jonathan Papelbon or Antonio Bastardo.
"This is a business," Schwimer said. "Everybody has to do what they think will make the team better. I respect their decision completely. I absolutely loved my time with the Phillies. They drafted me in 2008, called me up to the big leagues and if I wasn't a Phillie I would never have met my wife."
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I don't remember too many people singing Schwimer's praises last year. Seems to me the Phillies were also not too impressed with Mr. Schwimer either. I would've liked to have seen a little more on the player we received. 22 years old, hasn't played above A ball, this doesn't tell us a lot. The trade appears to be nothing for nothing, time will tell.— lefty27- Strip clubs in Lehigh Valley are depressed— NewMick314
- Clueless imbecile continues his wanton destruction of the Phillies franchise— warbiscuit
- the only person whom we are aware had issues with Schwimer is arrogant lying fraud ahole Rube --who also had issues with many coaches, assistants and has had numerous players and their agents call him a liar (Madson, Lidge, Lee in 2009 --and many more who didn't go public) and any fan can plainly see his compete dishonesty, incompetence and bullsh$% any time he gives a press confernce --why is this imbecile stil employed as g.m.? I GUARANTEE that the team will continue to go into deep sh$% so long as he runs it and he WILL be fired ..it's just a matter of time— warbiscuit
- I thought this guy actually had some talent. He pitched pretty good after a rough start. What did we get for him?— The One Who Knows
- Loose lips sink ships. The Phillies said goodbye to a set of loose lips today.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- @theonewhoknows --I agree that Schwimer showed some potential -- with a smart manager and pitching coach, who knows? in any event Schimwer did well to go to a lot better team on the rise as opposed to this stinking pile of horseSH$5 that is left in Philly so long as they have an incompetent arrogant dishonest complete and utter AS##$Ole running the team— warbiscuit
- I think Toronto got themselves a major-league talent and we got a guy who didn't matter to them or us. This was getting rid of a problem, pure and simple.— PhillySubsMac
- Schwimmer's twitter move was a young man's mistake (if a mistake at all) and nothing to get wrapped up about. His supposed injury, he should have handled in house. But the reason he got traded in my mind was that he annoyed a weak person in a position of power-Amaro. This is similar to the spitefulness we've seen from Banner, Roseman and Lurie. Weak people with no true guts. So he traded a potential major league arm for nothing. When has he ever gotten value in return for what he's given up? I hope Amaro doesn't turn this team into the Eagles type of culture.— Ballgame
- If Montgomery gives him one or two more years, Amaro will finish the job he started when the reins were turned over to him. That's the time we'll be looking up at (at least) three of the five teams in the division. The only reason he won't have us in the basement is because the Marlins are in our division.
- So Amaro traded a pitcher who DOMINATED AAA for a 1st baseman that'll never even make it to AAA. Typical RAJ style. Panics and gets rid of player for scraps. Reminds me of the Cliff deal to the Mariners.— BumSatellite
- nice move ruben. after the sixers had stolen the attention of the city with the acquisition of charles jenkins from hofstra, the phils needed a big move to get our minds back on spring training and the phils.— jim715
- True it is no big loss, but with pitching so godawful poor at the major league level, this move by the Phillies seems very petty and immature.— knebman
- Rube: "Hi Seattle: I'm about to acquire Roy Halladay (giggle, giggle) and I can't afford to keep Cliff Lee too; you have any prospects you want to give up? ...sure, whatever you say.. Deal."
"Hi Toronto, we're getting rid of Schwimmer; you have anybody you're willing to give up... sure whatever you say..Deal."
"Hey San Francisco or Dodgers, you want Pence or Victorino? you got anybody you want to give up... sure whatever your say..Deal"— warbiscuit - This was a deal that was just waiting to get done the second RAJ banished Shwimmer,and threats of an appeal were rumored to be coming from the agent...We've learned that RAJ will turn on someone real quick...ie. Davey Lopes in negotiations... Cliff Lee's trade out of town the very same day Roy H gets acquired, showing Lee's agent he's someone not to mess with...Chuck LaMar leaving after a single blowup over spending money to sign prospects......Schwimmer's a bit of a head case, but a friendly one, and HE DOES POSSESS swing and miss stuff with a nasty slider that can get RH hitters out...Agree that the Blue Jays have been really impressive as an active team the past few seasons, and this deal just reeks of peronal vendetta...Just another name to keep an eye on...In regards to Arbuckle chatter, that guy would have been GREAT.— bearsfriend
