The 4 PM non-waiver trade deadline passed today without the Phillies making a move. Naturally for this town, the front office will be lambasted in all corners of the media over the next few days, and while it would have been nice to improve the club, there are a plethora of legitimate reasons why that didn't happen.
Facts tend to be ignored when minds have already been made, but for those whose minds remain open, consider...
...Outside of the childish and self-centered two-tool toolbox Manny Ramirez, there were few, if any, hitters available that would have improved the Phillies everyday lineup.
...The Phillies farm system is just beginning to produce some edible fruit, there's no sense in emptying it entirely.
...The Phillies needed a top-of-the-rotation starter -- still! -- but again, do they need one so bad that emptying the farm system is worth it? Probably not.
...Also on the Phillies wish list was a bullpen arm and a solid bat for the bench, but it is entirely possible that players of that magnitude can still be acquired in August via waivers. Remember Jamie Moyer two years ago?
...Do you also remember Joe Blanton? There is still plenty of time for him to become one of the more important acquisitions of any team in July.
...Finally, and probably the most important factor to consider in the Phillies headline-less day was that when making a trade, it takes at least two to tango. Just because you'd like to make a deal doesn't mean anyone else wants to make that deal too.
The way some will talk over the airwaves next few days, you'll think they think the goal in April of every team is to make the biggest deal of all on July 31st, rather than winning the most games.
