When he wasn't dealt by Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline, righthander Joe Blanton thought he might be with the Phillies for the rest of the season.
So when he heard Friday afternoon that he had been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named or cash, he had a natural reaction.
"I was pretty shocked," Blanton said, talking to reporters in the Phillies dugout moments after hearing the news.
The trade was made after the Dodgers claimed Blanton off waivers.
The move continued the dismantling of a team that won five consecutive National League East Division titles but began the day 15 1/2 games out of first place.
Blanton becomes the third veteran peddled since Tuesday, joining Hunter Pence, who went to the San Francisco Giants, and Shane Victorino, who also joined the Dodgers.
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated that the Phillies would be getting a player for Blanton, but he couldn't announce it because of a major-league procedural issue.
That indicates that the Phillies will likely receive a player whom the Dodgers drafted last year. According to MLB rules, a drafted player can't be traded until a year after he signs.
While Amaro wouldn't say for sure, it appears as if the Phillies got the Dodgers to pick up a large portion of Blanton's remaining contract.
Blanton will be a free agent after this season. His contract this season is $8.5 million and he is owed a little less than $3 million.
The Phillies are believed to be under the $178 million threshold for luxury tax purposes. That has a direct effect on 2013 spending.
If the Phillies eclipsed the barrier in 2012, they would be subject to a 17.5 percent tax and loss of revenue-sharing money. If they became repeat offenders in 2013, the penalties are harsher.
When asked if trading Blanton helped for luxury tax purposes, Amaro replied, "It does, but that wasn't the reason. One of the reasons we were able to do this is the one player we also picked up, but it also allows us to do things this year."
Blanton was scheduled to pitch in Friday's opening of a weekend series at Citizens Bank Park with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was replaced by Kyle Kendrick.
To fill Blanton's spot on the 25-man roster right-hander B.J. Rosenberg was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Blanton now goes to a Dodgers team that began the evening a half-game behind the Giants in the NL West.
"I would have been happy if I stayed, at the same time it will be a new thing, a new venture," he said.
And a chance to return to the World Series.
"Playing for the chance to get to the postseason and a chance to win the World Series is what you play for," Blanton said.
Blanton was traded to the Phillies from Oakland on July 17, 2008, and he played a major role in helping them win the World Series that year. Blanton was 4-0 with a 4.20 ERA during the regular season and was 2-0 in the postseason, winning games in the division series and the World Series. Blanton also made one start in the 2009 World Series, but had no decision.
He naturally named winning the World Series the highlight of his tenure.
"The parade, going down Broad Street, all the fans, it was just a thrill," he said. "It's such a baseball city, and the fans have been great since I have been here, and it's been an amazing time."
As a Phillie, Blanton went 34-24 with a 4.47 ERA in 105 games, including 100 starts. This season he was 8-9 with a 4.59 ERA in 21 games, including 20 starts.
Now he finds himself in another pennant race.
Contact Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225, mnarducci@phillynews.com or on Twitter @sjnard
