The Cleveland Indians have traded pitcher Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies for prospects Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Lou Marson, and Jason Donald. Lee won the 2008 AL Cy Young award and was posting a 3.14 ERA this season. The Indians haven't been contenders this year, just like last year, and they have traded a Cy Young award winner for the second straight season. Last year before the trade deadline, the Indians traded C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia won the 2007 AL Cy Young award en route to the Indians taking the Boston Red Sox to Game 7 of the ALCS.
The Phillies decided to make this move because Lee was always their Plan B. Roy Halladay, arguably the best pitcher in the American League and possibly all of baseball, was their original plan and they could still get him. The Phillies didn't give up J.A. Happ or Kyle Drabek, two players the Toronto Blue Jays asked for in exchange for Halladay. If the Phillies are able to get Halladay also, they would clearly be the favorites in my opinion to win another World Series.
I think the move to get Lee was a good one but it doesn't make them much better. I still think the Los Angeles Dodgers are better than them. They have a front line starter as well with Chad Billingsley, who I feel is better than Lee. They also have young Clayton Kershaw who can win games as well. Their offense, led by Manny Ramirez, is definitely solid. The Phillies offense is solid also but their starting pitching isn't that solid. Cole Hamels hasn't been what he has been in the past and Jamie Moyer has been up and down all year. The Dodgers are still the favorites in the National League in my opinion.
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