The Philles Land Ace Cliff Lee From The Indians

Sports Betting News - July 29th, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

After struggling for weeks to get a trade deal done with the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Roy Halladay. The Philadelphia Phillies changed directions, and pending a physical, completed a trade for last years A.L. CY Young award winner Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians. The Phillies realized a trade for Roy Halladay would cost more than the Phillies wanted to offer and the Toronto organization is standing strong with their trade negotiations, demanding prospects.

The Phillies who are 58-40 on the season and 7 games above second place team the Florida Marlins, have tried all year to bolster their five man rotation. Cliff Lee, the 2008 CY Young award winner has fallowed last seasons success, with a great year this season posting a 3.14 ERA and striking out 107 batters in 152 innings and only walking 33 would be hitters. This marks the second time in two years the Cleveland Indians have traded away a CY Young award winner. During the middle of the season last year the Indians Traded Away 2007's CY Young award winner CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers, who was later signed by the New York Yankees.

The Indians acquired four minor league prospects from the Phillies team, in Triple-A right hand prospect Carlos Carrasco, Class-A right hand prospect Jason Knapp, Catcher Lou Marson, and short stop Jason Donald. The Indians are still looking to make more moves via trade as Victor Martinez the long time Catcher for the Cleveland organization is rumored to be the next player the Indians are willing to trade.

The Phillies lucked out acquiring Cliff Lee before the trade deadline, he is owed 6 million this year, most of which has already been paid buy the Cleveland Indians. After the remainder of this season, Lee has one more year left on his existing contract in which he will earn 8 million dollars. The Phillies will likely keep Lee for the post season run this year and all of next season and will let him go to another team via free agency at the end of next season. If the Phillies decide to re-sign Cliff Lee at the end of next season they will likely have to pay him more money than they are willing to offer.

Lee, who is a left handed pitcher now becomes the fourth left handed Phillies pitcher in their 5 man rotation. Lee is only 30 years old and has pitched in 7 major league baseball seasons in his short career. The Phillies are making a run for their third World Series Title and are trying not to wait another 28 years before their next chance at a World Series. Their last two World Series victories came in 1980 (first) and 2008 (second). Only one team in the National League has a better record than the Philadelphia Phillies and that is the LA Dodgers. These two teams met in the NLCS last year and chances are history will repeat it's self again this year. The Phillies have improved their defense overall and the entire team greatly with this latest acquisition.

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