PHILADELPHIA -
As expected, the Phillies -- now 16.5 games back in the NL East and 13 games out of the wild card race -- have made two trades that decrease their payroll as postseason hopes dim.
The latest is outfielder Hunter Pence, who was acquired by way of trade last season, being dealt to the San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies also sent cash with Pence in exchange for outfielder Nate Schierholtz and two minor leaguers, catcher Tommy Joseph and right-handed reliever Seth Rosin.
Earlier Tuesday, the Phils dealt centerfielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Josh Lindblom and Double-A pitcher Ethan Martin (both right-handers), along with a player to be named later or cash.
Victorino, the popular "Flyin' Hawaiian" was in the last year of his deal with the Phillies, and the team seemed unlikely to resign him, especially given large contracts already due next season to starting pitchers Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, as well as second baseman Chase Utley and first baseman Ryan Howard.
Pence was going to be expensive to keep next season. Since being acquired by the Phillies, he had batted .289 with 27 doubles, 28 home runs and 94 RBI in 155 games.
Victorino was hitting .261 with nine homers and 24 stolen bases on the 2012 season.
The Phillies noted in a news release about the Victorino deal, "During his time with the Phillies, he was a two-time National League All-Star and a three-time National League Gold Glove Award winner and played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In his final game as a Phillie on Sunday, the Hawaiian native went 3-for-4 with a home run, stolen base and two runs scored against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field."
After getting his first Major League experience with the San Diego Padres in 2003, Victorino has been a Phillie since 2005, and was a member of the 2008 World Series champions.
Victorino was originally drafted by the Dodgers.
FOX 29 Sports Director Tom Sredenschek tweeted that Martin was the Dodgers' top pick in 2008.
"On paper, looks like good deal for a guy who wasn't going to be back," Sredenschek said.
Martin, 23, was 8-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 20 starts for double-A Chattanooga, and he has averaged better than a strikeout per inning during his minor-league career.
Lindblom, 25, was 2-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 48 games this season for the Dodgers, holding opposing hitters to a .241 batting average.
As for the players coming back from the Giants, Schierholtz is a 28-year-old former second-rounder who is hitting .257 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 77 games for the Giants. He's also a career .296 pinch-hitter.
Joseph, 21, was hitting .260 with eight home runs and 38 RBI in 80 games at Double-A, while Rosin, 23, has gone 2-1 with 10 saves and a 4.31 ERA in 34 games (five starts) at Single-A.
The Phillies could still wind up moving starting pitcher Joe Blanton. The Orioles are widely rumored to be interested. And veteran outfielder Juan Pierre could also be shipped out before the 4 p.m. MLB trade deadline.
After trading away two-thirds of their starting outfield, the Phillies recalled prospect Domonic Brown from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and activated backup catcher Brian Schneider.
Stay with FOX 29 News and MyFOXPhilly.com for continuing coverage of the Phillies' trade deadline activities.
© Associated Press
