In the 3 1/2 years since the Phillies shipped Floyd and Gonzalez to the White Sox for soon-to-be-injured starter, Freddy Garcia, they have fared far better in their attempts at bolstering their major league rotation through name-brand additions. Kyle Lohse, Joe Blanton and Cliff Lee all played pivotal roles in the club's three consecutive postseason berths, and Roy Halladay is doing the same this season.
But while the Garcia situation may have proven to be a small smudge in a blueprint that ultimately resulted in a world title, it does illustrate the sacrifices involved when cheap depth and potential are exchanged for expensive upgrades.
In little more than a year, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has moved boldly to trade for three pitchers - Lee, Halladay, Oswalt - who have combined to finish in the Top 5 in Cy Young voting 12 times. In exchange, he has parted with three young pitchers - Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ - who are either major league ready or close to it.
In 2007 and 2008, the Phillies traded away four other young starters who have combined to start 112 games in the majors in 2009 and 2010. Floyd and Gonzalez, later traded to the A's, are both fixtures in their team's rotations this season. Lefty Josh Outman, dealt for Blanton in July 2008, started 12 games and posted a 3.48 ERA last season before undergoing elbow surgery. Lefty Matt Maloney, dealt in 2007 for Lohse, has allowed four earned runs in 11 2/3 innings in two starts for the Reds this season and is 9-5 with a 2.91 ERA in 18 starts at Triple A.
It is difficult to argue the return. Since 2007, the Phillies have accumulated seven postseason series, a world title, and a present-day rotation that features two veteran ace-quality starters.
