With one of the greatest Yankees pitchers in their franchise history retiring, the Yankees are left with a glaring hole in the fifth starter spot.
This leaves the Phillies in a very interesting situation. Does Ruben Amaro, Jr. call up Brian Cashman and offer up right-handed starter Joe Blanton up for a trade? If so, what type of compensation would the Phillies be interested in?
Blanton would be an attractive fit for the Yankees, who would rather have a better option for the fifth starter than Kevin Millwood, Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon.
The Phillies may be able to also pry something from the Yankees with them desperately needing a reliable fifth starter. In the difficult AL East, the Yankees may not want to start the season short-handed with the Rays and Red Sox being good enough to take full advantage of a head start.
The Phillies could get a prospect, a seasoned outfielder off the Yanks bench and/or get the Yankees to eat most of Blanton’s $17 million salary due to him the next two seasons.
If the Phillies do trade Blanton, they will have Vance Worley and Kyle Kendrick ready to battle it out for the fifth starter’s spot. Both would be very capable fits.
TTB 