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Philadelphia Phillies: 7 best trade deadline deals in franchise history

By Tim Boyle

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 6: (L-R) Cliff Lee #33, Roy Oswalt #44 and Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies watch from the dugout during the Phillies game against the New York Mets in the second inning on April 6, 2011 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 10-7. (Photo by Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 6: (L-R) Cliff Lee #33, Roy Oswalt #44 and Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies watch from the dugout during the Phillies game against the New York Mets in the second inning on April 6, 2011 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 10-7. (Photo by Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28: Cliff Lee #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets set to throw a pitch against the New York Yankees in Game One of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Phillies won 6-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1) Best Phillies trade deadline deal: Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco from the Indians

What’s the best Phillies trade deadline deal of all time? It’s the 2009 swap with the Cleveland Indians which brought us Cliff lee and Ben Francisco. Lee, of course, headlining this deal.

Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson were the four players dealt to Cleveland in this move. It was, easily, Carrasco who had the best major league career of the four. Lee, meanwhile, became a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

Interestingly enough, Lee’s 2009 numbers with the Phillies weren’t as superb as many of us remember. The 2008 American League Cy Young winner was 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA before the trade. After, he was 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA. This made for a season total of going 14-13 with a 3.22 ERA. It was his dominant 2009 postseason which included a 4-0 record and a pair of World Series victories that made him one of the greatest pitchers to ever suit up for the franchise.

Lee’s return to the Phillies in free agency after 2010 was when he had his best year with the 2011 squad. It never would have been possible if not for him first finding a landing spot with the Phillies at the 2009 trade deadline.

Francisco was also a nice piece for the Phillies to have as an outfield option. Having him involved is a nice little bonus.

Next. Phillies all-time starting lineup. dark

The importance of the trade deadline will only grow in Major League Baseball. The Phillies, at some point in the near future, should have another major deal to add to this list.

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