Joe Blanton High Steps to Philadelphia

Chase Utley had said if the Phillies could find a "piece that will fit into our puzzle to give us a better chance", that they would pull the trigger. The Phillies have found that piece. But will Joe Blanton give the Phillies a better chance at the division? They hope so, as they've traded three minor leaguers to get the big righty.

A's fans, who couldn't have been too happy that the club traded Rich Harden in the middle of a pennant race, are most likely ecstatic over the departure of Blanton, who is 5-12 this season with a 4.96 ERA while hitters are hitting .284 off of him. (Blanton's last start in green and gold saw him booed mercilessly by the Oakland faithful.) Of the three prospects Oakland received in return, two of them have been ranked near the top of their system, although looking at the grades on the list I'm not sure how much that says.

But still a very good haul for a struggling pitcher, one who's going to be saddled with a lot of expectation in a small ballpark. Certainly, Blanton is a step below guys like A.J. Burnett and Matt Cain, but Blanton was probably the most realistic option out there for the Phillies. That doesn't mean the expectation will be any less in Philadelphia ... which is the wrong city to get off to a bad start in.