BLANTON JOINS PHILLIES
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired pitcher Joe Blanton from the Oakland Athletics for second baseman Adrian Cardenas, pitcher Josh Outman and outfielder Matt Spencer.
What does it give the Philadelphia Phillies
Blanton is a solid middle of the rotation starter, which is precisely what the Phillies need at the moment. He'll join Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and possibly a returning Brett Myers, and may just give the Phillies the over-the-top boost needed to outlast the Mets and Marlins the in competitive NL East. Blanton can expect to see his ERA and other peripherals improve in the short run (and perhaps the long run as well), moving into a weaker hitting league where hitters will, for the most part, be unfamiliar with his arsenal. He's under contract until 2010, and none of the prospects Philly parted with were likely to match his potential impact on this year's pennant race.
What does it give the Oakland Athletics
The team's opening game starter, Blanton had been struggling this year and was even booed in his last home start before the break, so a change of scenery may have been in the interest of both parties. The batch of prospects they received here may actually be a better haul than Chicago sent for Rich Harden. Spencer has only an outside shot at being a regular in the major leagues, but Outman could see the rotation by September, and Adrian Cardenas is considered perhaps the number one second base prospect in all of baseball (Chase Utley's presence made him more expendable in Philadelphia). The A's may eventually have to quit trading their established players away if they hope to make a sustained run, but for now the talent continues to pile up in Oakland; that can never be a bad thing.
Fantasy impact
