Phillies looking to trade Blanton

As the Philadelphia Phillies pulled off the stealth move of the offseason by landing another ace to its talent-laden rotation with the addition of Cliff Lee(notes),the word on the street is that something has got to give.

That something is likely to be the dependable Joe Blanton(notes), who has won 25 games and maintained a 4.35 ERA in the three years that he's been with the team.

But now Lee's addition has him being bumped to the role of fifth starter behind Roy Halladay(notes), Lee, Roy Oswalt(notes), and Cole Hamelsnotes). Blanton is owed $17 million over the next two years, so Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. isexploring a trade that would send Blanton packing, according to ESPN.

It is likely the Phils will end up paying a chunk of Blanton's salary for whoever ends up taking him off their hands. Potential fifth starters for the Phils, such as Kyle Kendrick(notes), have got to be chomping at the bit right now to get to Spring Training and start learning from the heavily loaded front end of the rotation.

By Mark J. Miller,

http://sports.yahoo.com