Deal supposedly fizzles,
but Blanton offers promise

In the Batter’s Box
By Matt Godfrey

The Phillies supposedly were just a few physicals and a few signatures from sending centerfielder Shane Victorino, minor league pitchers J.A. Happ and Carlos Carrasco, and minor league catcher Lou Marson to the Colorado Rockies for lefty reliever Brian Fuentes and outfielder Matt Holliday.
The deal reportedly was nixed because of Fuentes’ likely jump to free agency at the end of the season, and also because of the additional salary the Phils would be taking on.
But it’s also a gamble the Phillies may have taken had it not been for Fuentes’ openly discussed desire to be a closer.
The team’s recent commitment to current closer Brad Lidge — three years, $37.5 million — would have made Fuentes’ search for a new team at the end of the season a very strong bet.
Deal or no deal, this scenario shouts one thing loud and clear: The Phillies are not done pursuing roster improvements just yet. They are still in the market to make upgrades as they see fit, even, seemingly, at the possible expense of mortgaging the future to do so.
As most fans know by now, the Phillies sent three prospects — Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman and Matt Spencer — to the Oakland Athletics last week for starting pitcher Joe Blanton.
I think that move strengthened the rotation in a few ways. First, Blanton fills the fifth spot in the rotation vacated by Brett Myers when he was sent to the minor leagues to "figure things out" as far as his shaky first-half performance.
Second, with Myers’ return to the team on Wednesday, that development and Blanton’s arrival bring an end — at least for now — to Adam Eaton’s spot in the rotation and the return of his meltdowns on the mound.
Eaton has been sent to the bullpen temporarily, although I doubt he’ll be called on to pitch this team out of tough situations. His consistency early in the season has given way to too much inconsistency now to believe that Eaton would be reliable with the game on the line.
For the Phils, one of the best things about the trade for Blanton is the pieces they gave up to get him. Or, more accurately, the pieces they did not give up to get him.
Although Cardenas and Outman were projected as the number 2 and 4 prospects in the Phillies’ farm system by Baseball America, the team was able to keep a top prospect in Carlos Carrasco, as well as two other studs in Jason Donald and Lou Marson, who are playing baseball for the U.S. team in this year’s Olympic Games.
Blanton’s arrival also could work well for the fragile psyche of Myers, thus returning an even stronger Brett Myers to the big club.
With Blanton, though he is not a certifiable stud himself, Myers does not have to so obviously be the second option in the starting rotation behind ace Cole Hamels.
That pressure, which earlier in the season sat squarely on Myers’ shoulders, is now spread among multiple options, including Blanton, Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer.
Even if the Phils don’t make another roster move, the Blanton factor helps establish a pretty steady rotation with guys who can take the ball and do good things every time they’re on the mound.
Just the same, we’ll see if the Phillies make any more moves as the non-waiver trade deadline looms on July 31.
As a bit of fantasizing, however, the Inquirer’s Don McKee compiled what would have been the starting lineup had that trade with the Rockies been finalized:
1. Jayson Werth (in centerfield)
2. Jimmy Rollins, 2007 MVP
3. Chase Utley, potential 2008 MVP
4. Matt Holliday, 2007 MVP runner-up (in rightfield)
5. Ryan Howard, 2006 MVP
6. Pat Burrell (in leftfield)
7. Pedro Feliz
8. Carlos Ruiz
9. A very happy pitcher with an American League-style starting lineup in front of him.
No one knows for sure if that deal is dead, but it’s always nice to dream. ••