A's Trade Blanton to Phillies for Minor Leaguers

A's trade another starter, dealing right-hander Blanton to Phillies for 3 minor leaguers By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer OAKLAND, Calif. July 18, 2008 (AP) The Oakland Athletics traded away their second starting pitcher this month, dealing burly right-hander Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies for three minor leaguers on Thursday. A's general manager Billy Beane swapped Blanton a week after sending Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs — and that's with his team very much in contention in the AL West, six games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels. "Philadelphia was aggressive," Oakland assistant GM David Forst said. "They made it clear they needed a starting pitcher to help out and we were able to get the deal done." The minor leaguers involved are left-hander Josh Outman, who was in Double-A, and second baseman... [read full story]