The Phillies acquired right handed starting pitcher Joe Blanton from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor leaguers Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman and Matthew Spencer.  Cardenas and Outman were rated as top ten prospects in the Phillies system.  Blanton is an innings eater having pitched more than 200 innings in two of the past three seasons.  He has a record of 42 and 34 over that same time period.  Blanton has struggled at times this season and has a 5-12 record thus far for 2008 in 20 starts.  He is expected to replace Adam Eaton in the starting rotation with Brett Myers rejoining the rotation as well.

I believe it is an upgrade to the rotation, perhaps not a top of the rotation type pitcher but for what was exchanged he is well worth the risk.  It remains to be seen if any more transactions are made before the trade deadline passes.

The Phillies optioned R.J. Swindle to Triple A Lehigh Valley and recalled pitcher Joe Bisenius.  Swindle was ineffective in his short stint with the Phillies.  Bisenius was on the big league roster last season as he made the opening day roster.  Once thought of as a potential closer Bisenius is a hard throwing right hander.  The Phillies were caught short in the bullpen after extended innings were needed both in Friday and Saturday’s games.  Bisenius was available for action on Sunday but was not used. 

One day after helping the Phillies end a four game losing skid rookie left hander J.A. Happ was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley. The reasoning is that with the all star break upcoming the big league club will not need a fifth starter until July 23rd when they face the Mets in New York. It is very possible that Happ might be recalled to start that day but in the interim the team wants him to pitch in a regular rotation at the Triple A level rather than sitting.

Called up to replace Happ on the roster was infielder Mike Cervenak. Cervenak is a thirty two year old right hand hitter who was batting .310 at Lehigh with 7 home runs and 52 rbi’s in 90 games. This is his first opportunity to play in the big leagues. Prior experiences include a stint in the Korean Baseball League. He was drafted in the 43rd round by the Oakland A’s in the 1998 player draft and is a graduate of Michigan State University. He will provide pinch hitting off the bench and can play both first and third base. The move leaves the Phillies with 11 active pitchers on the roster and 14 position players.

While a somewhat curious move from the perspective that Adam Eaton struggled in his last start the team feels that Eaton is a better option as the fourth starter than Happ at this point……….perhaps a sign that a trade is brewing ?

Starting pitcher Cole Hamels says his $100,000 pay raise is a low blow from the Philadelphoia Phillies.  Hamels was expecting a lot bigger raise based on how he performed last season.  After earning $400,000 in 2007, Hamels will now earn $500,000 in 2008.

Since Hamels was not salary arbitration elegible so there really wasn’t anything he could do as the Philles re-worked his contract.

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The Philadelphia Phillies offered first basemen Ryan Howard $7 million dollars, and after going through salary arbitration, they will be paying him $10 million dollars.  The $10 million is the highest amount awarded a victorious player.

Hopefully Howard will get his batting average back over .300 and continue slugging homeruns and hitting runners in with this new contract.  Earn that extra $3 million dollars Ryan!

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Kris Benson has decided to sign a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies it sounds like.  Benson will get a invitation to Spring Training as well, and will give it a go to earn a spot in the starting rotation for the Phillies.

Benson might not be 100% until after opening day as he is still recovering from a torn laburm that he had to have surgery on.  You definately do not want to rush bringing him back.  Make sure he is 100% ready and then let him battle it out for a spot in the rotation.  If not, enjoy the minors lol.

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The Philadelphia Phillies have went out and signed Pedro Feliz to a two year contract for some reason.  Feliz is really making out on this deal, at most it should have only been a one year contract most Phillies fans think.

Look for Feliz to hit toward the bottom of the order for the Phillies. I really don’t think he will have much of an impact for the Phillies.  The Phillies could have probably done better but thought Feliz was the best deal out there at the time.

What do you think Phillies fans?

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The Philadelphia Phillies signed a couple of pitchers to hold down spots in the bullpen for the 2008 season.  Ryan Madson re-signed with the Phillies for one year at $1.4 million and Brad Lidge signed a contract for one year and $6.35 million.

So between the two players, the Phillies commited close to $8 million dollars between to relief pitchers.  Two of the better ones in the game though, so I think it is a good move.  You can never have too many good relief pitchers in baseball.  Lets hope Lidge recovers from his bad 07 season with the Houston Astros.

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PhilliesHomePlate.Com would like to welcome all you Philadelphia Phillies fans to our brand new Phillies blog.  We hope you enjoy your stay here, and come back each and every day to read our new articles on the Philadelphia Phillies.  From game reviews, to rumors and transactions, all the way to phillies tickets info, we will have it all here at phillieshomeplate!

The 2007 season didn’t end the way the Phillies were hoping as they were swept away by the Colorado Rockies during the first round of the playoffs.  Can the Phillies turn it around and make it back to the playoffs in 2008 and hopefully get out of the first round?  Can they overtake the mighty New York Mets and when the division first?  I think it will be hard to do, but that is why they play the game because anything can happen!

Do you think the Phillies have a good shot at making it back to the playoffs in 2008?  Let your opinion be heard by leaving us a comment!