Around the League: April 17-23 - philliesfan136's Dynasty

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Around the League: April 17-23

Posted on July 16, 2011 at 06:40 AM.

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After making a move for a new catcher, Phillies GM Nick Puleo made more moves, this time for some players on the other side of the diamond.

The Phillies acquired P Ryan Perry from the Tigers for P Joe Blanton.
This one was a move for the long-term as the team has the 24-year-old Perry under contract for 5 years. Blanton, whose contract is worth 13.60 million over two more seasons, was 1-1 through 18 innings with 16 strikeouts and 10 runs allowed for the Phillies this season. Perry, meanwhile, had only pitched 4 1/3 innings with Detroit, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, also walking 2 and striking out 5. In 2010, the young righty pitched 62 and 2/3 innings, going 3-5 with 45 strikeouts and 6 homers allowed. His arsenal includes a good fastball that tops out at 98 MPH, a 2-seam fastball, a cutter, and a slider as well as a changeup.

To replace Blanton in the rotation, Vance Worley was recalled. Through 3 starts with AAA Lehigh Valley, Worley struck out 12 and allowed 5 runs, with a solid 1.93 ERA. To replace Worley in the Ironpigs' rotation, the Phillies acquired P Eric Hurley from the Rangers for P Danys Baez.
Hurley had pitched 6 and 2/3 innings in relief with Texas's AAA affiliate. Baez had pitched only a third of an inning with the Phillies this season, and managed a ugly 1.22 K/BB ratio through 47 and 2/3 innings with the team last season. He didn't have a role in their bullpen this season, and it doesn't look like he will with the Rangers either, as he was sent down to AAA by Texas right after. The fact that the Phils were able to get anything for the soon-to-be-retired Baez makes this an automatic steal for them.

The last trade the aggressive GM made was shipping P Roy Oswalt and IF Wilson Valdez to the Oakland Athletics for P Gio Gonzalez and P Fautino De Los Santos.
It's another move to get younger, as the Phillies trade the aging Oswalt for an up-and-coming 25-year-old lefty in Gonzalez. Oswalt was 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA through 26 innings with the Phillies, while Gonzalez was 2-1 with a decent 3.20 ERA through 25 and 1/3 innings with Oakland. Valdez, who had managed just 4 hits in 21 at-bats (.190) with the team, was thrown in to give Michael Martinez more time as the backup infielder. Martinez, who has the ability to play at every position except for first base and catcher, was batting .260 (13 for 50) with 9 RBI with AAA Lehigh Valley since being selected as a Rule 5 Draft Pick from the Nationals. De Los Santos could get a look as a middle reliever for the Phillies, but for now will be sent down to the minors. The Phillies liked him because he is said to feature a nice sinker and a decent fastball. He also offers a 12-6 curve and a slider.

In other news, some veteran pitchers signed on for a fresh start:

The Cardinals signed P Elmer Dessens.
Dessens pitched in 53 games with the Mets last season, going 47 innings with a 4-2 record and holding batters to a .230 batting average. He signed a minor league contract with the Giants in the winter, but it fell out. The 40-year-old vet has a 52-64 career record and a career ERA of 4.44. He's definitely on the downside of his career, but still can pitch and has plenty of experience. He's expected to pitch in middle relief for St. Louis at the moment.

The Cubs signed P Jeff Weaver and sent him to AAA Iowa.
Weaver pitched for the Dodgers last season, and went 5-1 with a 6.09 ERA in 44 and 1/3 relief innings. The 34-year-old right-hander has a career .277 BAA and a career 2.35 K/BB rate.
He was sent down to be a starter in AAA, and probably doesn't have much left.

That's all for this edition of "Around the League". The next will be for the 24th to the 30th, which will wrap up the month's transactions.

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