With the July 31st trading deadline around the corner, the talk in Philadelphia is that the Phillies come Tuesday will make some significant changes. In fact, Cliff Lee has been mentioned as a possible trade bait to acquire some much needed bullpen help that the Phillies are in desperate need.
Cliff Lee is a premier pitcher and to give up on him a second time will a disaster. Currently, with the signing of Hamels to a long-term contract, the Phillies have three of the best pitchers in baseball and although 2012 did not turned out as many of us expected, this Phillies' team with the addition of a couple of relief pitchers will contend for a very long time.
Ruben Amaro and the Phillies made one blunder in 2009 when they traded Lee to Seattle to acquire future prospects. Well, that scenario did not turned out as the Phillies expected and in the interim, they lost a golden opportunity to win a second World Series.
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I hope the Phillies with Ruben Amaro at the helm, will not make a second blunder and give up on Lee a second time or trade Shane Victorino that since he came to Philadelphia, he has given Phillies' fans great memories especially in the 2008 World Series when he played and hit like a champ.
You just do not give up on players who have performed above anyone expectations. We all remember Jason Werth who came to the Phillies and did a splendid job. Werth is no longer with the Phillies neither is Michael Bourn and other Phillies farmhand players who have turned out to be players to be noticed.
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I say to the Phillies, play as hard as you can. Anything can happen in the next three months, making the playoffs is not completely out of reach. A run is still possible for this Phillies' team but in order to do that, the core of this team must remain intact.
With Lee, Halladay and Hamels together with Howard and Hutley, the Phillies can once again recapture the glory days of 2008 and win another World Series in 2013.
Break up this team and the rebuilding might prove to be more difficult than keeping this team intact and in the process, the other teams in this National League East divisiion will have a leg up on the Phillies. This year is the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves. Who knows what team will surface next year as the equivalent of this year's Nationals?
