7-UP: Seven Former ‘Claws Helped Land Halladay
When the dust finally clears out after the deal is officially announced, possibly later today, it looks like the tally will be seven former BlueClaws that in one way or another helped the Phillies land Roy Halladay. In all, four of them were traded for Lee, who was in turn traded to Seattle in the Halladay deal.
Let’s take a look…
The Cliff Lee Deal
Jason Donald: Middle-infielder was with the BlueClaws in 2007, when he hit .310, earning an early June promotion. The Arizona product, drafted in 2006, ended up in AAA this year with the Indians, and has a chance to make their Opening Day roster in 2010. He and Jason Knapp are the only members of the Lee deal to not yet reach the big leagues.
Jason Knapp: He pitched great at times for Lakewood, but his season was unravled on July 10th in Kannapolis when he injured his shoulder, allowing 6 runs in 2/3 of an inning in the process. The BlueClaws scored less than three runs per game for Knapp (hence his 2-7 record) but he throws 95 and fanned 111 in just 85 innings. He’ll likely open 2010 with Hi-A Kinston.
Carlos Carrasco: One of the three aces on the 2006 SAL Champion BlueClaws, when he went 12-6, 2.26, Carrasco made it to Cleveland last year, joining Josh Outman and Matt Maloney from the ‘06 rotation as big leaguers. After going 6-9, 5.19 with Lehigh Valley, after the trade he was 5-1, 3.17 for Columbus in the Indians system.
Lou Marson: An ‘04 draft pick, Marson was the catcher on the ‘06 BlueClaws. Debuting with the Phillies in 2008, he went 11-44 with the Indians and could make the Opening Day roster next year. He hit .277 between Lehigh Valley and Columbus last year.
The Roy Halladay Deal
Kyle Drabek: He spent part of 2007 in Lakewood before getting hurt, but emerged as the top pitching prospect in the organization during a dynamite 2009 which saw him go 13-3 between Clearwater and Reading, with almost a strikeout per inning. Obviously the Phillies were reluctant to give him up (a potential ace), but you have to give something to get something, as they say.
Travis d’Arnaud: When Marson was traded in July, that stamped d’Arnaud as the catcher of the future in the organization. A polished hitter, apparantly Toronto was going to take him in 2007 but the Phillies jumped in one pick ahead. His numbers weren’t great, .251-13-71 (he hit .211 in the first half), but had a dynamite second half (including 28 doubles). Also, he hit 13 home runs, which would have easily been 20 if he played in a more hitter friendly ballpark. Manager Dusty Wathan gave him a ton of credit not just for bouncing back with a great second half offensively, but also for being a stabalizing force for the entire pitching staff from the first out of the season to the last.
Michael Taylor: Of these seven, he’s clearly the biggest winner. Blocked by Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth, Taylor, who will be traded to Oakland, probably jumps right into the Athletics Opening Day lineup, not far from where he went to school (Stanford). His .361-10-50 in the first half of 2008 is probably the best half any BlueClaw has ever put together offensively.
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December 23rd, 2009 at 11:42 am
[...] been a week since the big trade, one that sent several former BlueClaws (three in this deal, seven including the Cliff Lee deal from July). Obviously, Halladay is now a [...]