Phillies Top Ten Trades, Signings, and Roster Moves of 2016
By John Town
No. 4: Trading Carlos Ruiz to the Dodgers
Since the 2014 season ended and the Phillies officially waved the white flag, the team slowly off-loaded the remaining pieces from their World Series team. First to go was Jimmy Rollins that winter, then Cole Hamels and Chase Utley both left during the 2015 season. When 2016 came around, Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard were the only players left from that squad. By the end of August, only Howard was left as Ruiz was traded to the Dodgers for catcher A.J. Ellis, minor-leauge pitcher Tommy Bergjans, and a player to be named later who turned out to be outfielder Joey Curletta.
Ruiz’s trade only made the notion clearer that the Phillies are headed into a new era of their history. Whether or not it will be a good era will be determined, but each former star that leaves the team is another tug at the heartstrings of each fan in Philadelphia. It was especially hard to see Ruiz go because every fan liked him. Even as his play declined, he remained a fan favorite as echoes of Chooooooooooooch rang throughout Citizens Bank Park.
Turning towards what the deal meant for the Phillies looking forward, it solidified Cameron Rupp as the 2017 starter behind the plate. With Ruiz leaving and Ellis eventually signing somewhere else as well, the backup behind Rupp will now be one of the young catching prospects the Phils have.