NEWS: Phillies Acquire Cliff Lee

Various media outlets are reporting that the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed in principle to a trade that would bring reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Cliff to the defending World Champions.

Along with outfielder Ben Francisco, Lee has apparently been acquired in what may prove to be a great stroke of gamesmanship. The Phillies are reportedly not being asked to part ways with rookie JA Happ or any of the other three top prospects, including Kyle Drabek, that the Toronto Blue Jays were reportedly requiring in a deal for Roy Halladay.

What makes this move particularly intriguing is that Lee, like current Phillies’ ace Cole Hamels, is left-handed. This move adds significant depth to the rotation of a Phillies team that’s running away with the National League East, but the trade for right-handed Halladay would have complemented Hamels more.

The trade is still reportedly pending physicals, and the names of the prospects the Phillies are sending to Cleveland have not yet been released.