No. 3: Trading Ben Revere to the Blue Jays
In 2015, the Phillies finally raised the white flag and started trading every tangible asset they had. One of those assets was outfielder Ben Revere, who was a starting outfielder for the last two and a half seasons. In that time, he played 335 games, managing a .303/.331/.363 line in that time.
More from That Balls Outta Here
- Phillies-Mets owners’ rivalry grows after shocking Carlos Correa deal
- Could Rich Hill become ‘Jamie Moyer 2.0’ in Phillies rotation?
- Does Bailey Falter have a future in Phillies’ rotation?
- Prospect Andrew Baker could help Phillies bullpen in 2023
- Bryce Harper’s absence should lead to Phillies lineup tinkering
The Phillies traded Revere to the Blue Jays for two minor-league pitchers, Jimmy Cordero and Alberto Tirado. Both Tirado and Cordero had wicked stuff, as Cordero had a fastball that would run well over 100 mph while Tirado had a truly devastating wipeout slider.
Unfortunately, neither Cordero or Tirado have panned out. Cordero had almost zero control of his pitches, walking 4.9 batters per nine innings in his minor-league career. He was traded to the Nationals after his first full season in the system. Meanwhile, Tirado was just designated for assignment after posting a 4.07 ERA and 1.720 WHIP in 2016 between High-A and Double-A.
The Phillies tried to get some reward for Revere, but it didn’t pay off for them. They went after high-risk, high-reward pitchers, but they didn’t work out.