That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Most impactful trade made with every team

By George Stockburger

Roy Halladay and Ruben Amaro Jr. of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
Roy Halladay and Ruben Amaro Jr. of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE – JULY 09: Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners speaks at a press conference announcing his trade to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Justin Smoak, pitcher Blake Beavan, Double-A Frisco reliever Josh Lueke and second baseman Matt Lawson at Safeco Field on July 9, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE – JULY 09: Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners speaks at a press conference announcing his trade to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Justin Smoak, pitcher Blake Beavan, Double-A Frisco reliever Josh Lueke and second baseman Matt Lawson at Safeco Field on July 9, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Seattle Mariners: Cliff Lee

"On December 16, 2009, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners for Tyson Gillies, Phillippe Aumont and JC Ramirez."

Coming off a disappointing World Series loss in 2009 the Phillies were determined to get better, even if it ended up in them trading their best pitcher.

The Phillies’ white whale was always Roy Halladay. They tried to get him in 2009, but they settled for Cliff Lee in the aforementioned trade with Cleveland. But this time, they got him.

On December 16 the Phillies traded two of their top-three prospects to get the best pitcher in baseball to push them towards another championship.

But, the Phillies had another move up their sleeves. As general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. would later reveal, there was a mandate to restock the farm system after making moves for Lee, Moyer, Lidge, Blanton, Loshe, and others.

To restock the farm system the Phillies decided to trade arguably their biggest asset and pass on the possibility (for now) to have a rotation of Halladay, Lee, and Hamels.

Shortly after trading for Halladay the Phillies sent Lee packing to the Pacific Northwest for three prospects, all of whom were gigantic busts.

Tyson Gillies (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Tyson Gillies (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Tyson Gillies was arrested for cocaine possession, but the charges were dropped. After hitting .341 in the Mariners system in 2009 Gillies played just 24 games in 2010 and three games in 2011. The Phillies released him during the 2014 season and he faded off.

JC Ramirez, a right-handed starter turned reliever, made 18 appearances for the Phillies in 2013 with a 7.50 ERA. The team moved on in 2013.

Phillippe Aumont, the Canadian right-hander, might have been the biggest disappointment of the group. He was one of the Mariner’s top pitching prospects coming off some good years in the Seattle farm system.

Aumont floated through the Phillies system with little success as a reliever and starter. He came up to the big leagues in 2012 and walked nine batters in 14 innings. He got 22 more appearances with the Phillies the next year and made six appearances over the next two years before falling out of favor in the organization. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2015.

The idea of restocking the farm system wasn’t a terrible idea, but the players who they got back in return were.

Honorable Mention

August 19, 2006. The Seattle Mariners traded Jamie Moyer to the Philadelphia Phillies for Andrew Baldwin and Andy Barb.

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