Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes today that the Phillies are taking a look at Oakland righty Joe Blanton. Additionally, the Phils will bring Brett Myers back to the Majors on July 23rd.
Blanton, 27, had a rough first half – he has a 4.96 ERA in 127 innings. All his numbers are worse compared to ’07 – strikeouts, walks, home runs. A move to the NL would help, even if he has to leave the friendly Oakland Coliseum for Citizens Bank Park.
Blanton is under team control through 2010, though he will not necessarily be cheap since he will have to go through the arbitration process twice more. We’ve heard that the Phillies don’t want to discuss prospects Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, or Greg Golson so we’ll have to see if Pat Gillick and Billy Beane can find a match. Despite their long tenures I cannot find an example of a previous trade between these two GMs. By the way, Buster Olney says the Phillies are not currently looking at A.J. Burnett.
