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Phillies trade pitchers Vance Worley and Trevor May to Minnesota Twins for outfielder Ben Revere

The Phillies have traded popular starting pitcher Vance Worley and prospect Trevor May to the Minnesota Twins for 24-year-old oufielder Ben Revere.

Vance Worley reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Dan Uggla in the fourth inning Sunday. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Vance Worley reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Dan Uggla in the fourth inning Sunday. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

Ruben Amaro Jr. stood in a small circle of Phillies executies just in front of the front desk and next to the door out of the Opryland Hotel around 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Minutes later, when approached by reporters if he had time to talk, Amaro replied, "No, I don't."

It turns out that Amaro was very busy in the last few hours of baseball's winter meetings.

While a trade with the Texas Rangers for third baseman Michael Young appears imminent - it's only awaiting Young to waive his no-trade clause, according to sources - the Phillies have found their 2013 center fielder.

The Phillies have traded popular starting pitcher Vance Worley and prospect Trevor May to the Minnesota Twins for 24-year-old oufielder Ben Revere.

"Ben is an outstanding, young, controllable center fielder who fits nicely with our club," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a press release.

MLB.com first reported the completion of the trade early Thursday afternoon, after Phillies officials had left the site of the Winter Meetings.

Who is Ben Revere?

He's a 24-year-old who hit .294 with a .333 on-base percentage in his second full season in the big leagues in 2012. He stole 40 bases in 49 attempts, which was the third-best total in the American League last year.

Revere's biggest strength is his outfield defense. He has played all three outfield positions in his career, and in 2011 won an award from MLB Network for the year's best catch:

The Twins drafted Revere with the 28th overall pick in 2007. He is a career .278 hitter with 64 RBI and 74 stolen bases in 254 games, all of which have been played with Minnesota. He has started at all three outfield positions in the majors: 126 times in center field, 84 times in right field and 19 times in left field.

Since he's not even arbitration eligible, Revere is also cheap, meaning the Phillies should have the means to add a bigger-salaried, more-proven, power bat in right field.

Worley made 23 starts for the Phillies last season, finishing with a 6-9 record and a 4.20 earned run average.

May spent 2012 with Double-A Reading and was regarded as one of the Phillies' best rising talents. Earlier this year, the Inquirer and Daily News ranked May as the top overall prospect in the team's minor league system.

"[It] was an honor to be a part of Phillies organization for the past 5 years," May wrote on Twitter after the trade. "I am truly grateful up for everything they have done for me."